http://www.smh.com.au/environment/abbot-point-coal-terminal-water-spill-to-cause-significant-damage-20170410-gvht8u.html
The Queensland government is investigating water spills from the Abbot Point coal terminal into neighbouring wetlands as an expert predicts long-term environmental damage.
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection was assessing whether there were any unauthorised water releases from the Adani-operated coal terminal into the wetland after Cyclone Debbie tore through north Queensland late last month.
The EHP and Adani said early indications showed all spills were within guidelines.
But James Cook University professorial research fellow in water quality studies Professor Jon Brodie said coal had clearly spilled into the wetlands and environmental harm was "highly likely".
His comments came in the wake of the release of striking satellite imagery from before and after the storm, appearing to show coal-laden water spilling throughout the sensitive Caley Valley wetlands.
The Mackay Conservation Group said the 5000-hectare wetlands were home to 40,000 shorebirds in the wet season and more than 200 individual species.
Mackay Conservation Group (see
http://www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au/ ) co-ordinator Peter McCallum, whose organisation released the images, said they showed the wetlands had been "turned black by coal escaping from the port".
"Adani is putting itself forward as this responsible environmental payer but its behaviour is completely the opposite," he said.
"It's doing what it says is within the rules but anyone within two eyes can see that what they've done at the Caley Valley wetlands is horrendous and it's really going to have a severe impact on those wetlands and the wildlife that depends upon them.
see photos of spill at
https://www.facebook.com/mackayconservationgroup 
