Council blasts Adani over ‘disappointing’ actions

Isaac Regional Council has lobbed a diplomatic hand-grenade at Adani, saying it has lost patience over a raft of grievances involving development of the controversial Carmichael coal mine. But Bravus Mining & Resources - as Adani's Australian mining business is now known - has accused the council of embarking on a smear campaign rather than following established dispute resolution processes. A council meeting today unanimously supported an urgent Mayoral minute raising issues in relation the mine, including lack of local recruitment and a dispute over road construction standards. And it instructed Isaac's chief executive officer to take all steps reasonably open to the council - including legal action where necessary - to ensure Bravus/Adani’s compliance with its obligations. “Frankly, Isaac Regional Council have lost patience with the behaviour of this company,” Mayor Anne Baker said. “We are disappointed with Adani’s treatment of local landholders and their non-compliance with some of their obligations, and also disappointed by exclusive job advertising in and around Rockhampton and Townsville and not local communities like Clermont. “Adani are not being good corporate citizens and we remind them that their social licence to operate is a precious thing they should value and protect.” Claims are misleading says company But Bravus Mining & Resources says the accusations being made publicly by the council are misleading and incorrect. "We do not dispute that we are not aligned with the IRC on some elements relating to our project, however our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our people and the community, while delivering safe and commercially competitive infrastructure," a company spokeswoman said. The elements in dispute included upgrades to a council-owned road which Bravus was funding at a cost of more than $100 million, she said. "Whilst we are not arguing about having to pay for this work, the IRC is wanting Bravus to provide a level of flood immunity greater on this local council road than some parts of the Bruce Highway - this request does not make technical or commercial sense and as such we are in dispute with IRC." In relation to jobs, the company had written to the council on a number of occasions detailing its employment processes, which allowed people from the Isaac region to apply for jobs on the Carmichael project, she said. "From the outset we said that Rockhampton and Townsville would be the primary hubs of employment for our project and that this would not exclude people from other regional centres being engaged on our project. "The IRC and Isaac Region has benefited from employment and contracts throughout the construction phase of our project and this will continue into operations. Importantly we comply with the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act, despite the claims of the IRC." Work at the Carmichael coal project. Photo: Cameron Laird The minute passed by councillors states that Isaac Regional Council: 1. Having carefully considered its observations expresses strong empathy for local stakeholders that are detrimentally impacted by the Carmichael Mine project; 2. Re-states its long-held and often advocated position of support for mining development only where it is done responsibly and with due regard to social, environmental and economic impacts; 3. Expresses its strong dissatisfaction over Adani’s handling of the Carmichael Mine project as it relates to the following aspects (not exhaustive); · the ongoing dispute with a nearby landowner and the apparent lack of commitment by Adani to resolve such dispute despite Council’s concerted attempts to mediate, · the ongoing legal dispute between Council and Adani about standards for road construction in accordance with the Infrastructure Access Agreement, · the abject failure of Adani to manage its recruitment for project workers in accordance with the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act by advertising most positions with an exclusive focus on Rockhampton/Capricorn Coast and Townsville/North Queensland despite Council’s repeated representations to Adani and the State Government on behalf of its local communities, · the ongoing failure of Adani to meet its obligations with respect to Stage 1 works and its requests for concession (including repeated extension of deadlines) from Council under the Infrastructure Access Agreement, · the failure of Adani to manage the project traffic safely on the Mine Access Road with particular concern about construction standards (batters), severe dust and temporal condition of sections of the road; 4. Calls on Adani to critically review its approach and to do the right thing by stakeholders, road users, local communities and Council; and 5. Instructs the Chief Executive Officer to take all action reasonably open to Council to ensure Adani’s compliance with its obligations under legislation, approvals granted by State and Commonwealth Government and the Infrastructure Access Agreement including advocacy, formal dispute and legal action where necessary. Miner may seek State intervention The Bravus spokeswoman said the company remained committed to working in a professional and constructive manner with the Isaac Regional Council. "However if a similar attitude does not exist with the Isaac Regional Council we will be seeking the Queensland State Government to intercede in order to safeguard the thousands of jobs our project is delivering in North and Central Queensland," she said. "The livelihoods of thousands of workers on our project are too important to be swept up in local political issues."

Council blasts Adani over ‘disappointing’ actions

Industry Queensland

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