Bravus Mining, formerly Adani, fined $25,920 for misinterpreting requirements

On October 30, the department issued two infringement notices totalling $25,920 to mining company Bravus for not meeting a condition attached to their approval received under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The approval of the mine, which was granted on October 14, 2015, had 36 conditions attached.

A Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment spokesperson said the mine failed to meet the requirements of condition 7 of the approval, which requires them to implement the approved Species Management Plan.

"The department found that Adani Mining Pty Ltd failed to implement the Species Management Plan by not undertaking pre-clearance surveys within the required time frame prior to clearing," the spokesperson said.

"The department also found that Adani Mining Pty Ltd did not comply with the requirements to revise the management measures within the Species Management Plan as a result of pre-clearance surveys.

"The department takes non-compliance with approval conditions seriously. This penalty serves as a reminder that approval holders must comply with their approval conditions."

The announcement coincides with the mining giant's first controlled blast on their site this week, with Bravus highlighting the strict safety and environmental measures in place to ensure dust, vibration and noise are kept in hand so local flora and fauna are not disrupted.

A Bravus spokesperson said the compliance issues were a consequence of misinterpreting project condition reporting requirements.

"Bravus Mining and Resources issued a media statement on Friday, November 27, stating that it had notified the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment that it has paid $25,920 to the department for compliance notices received earlier this month," a Bravus spokesperson said.

"Two minor compliance issues were raised by the department in relation to a pre-clearance survey which had expired by 24 days, and an updated Species Management Plan not being submitted within the three-month window required, following a pre-clearance survey.

"Bravus management has since provided additional internal training to ensure our understanding of the conditions aligns with the expectations of the department."

In February this year, the company was slapped with a $20,000 fine for providing 'false or misleading' land clearing documents to Queensland's environmental watchdog.

The mining giant failed to report the clearing of 5.8 hectares at the Carmichael mine site in its 2017-18 annual return.

Mackay Conservation Group spokesperson Peter McCallum said Adani must be held accountable for breaking environmental laws.

"Expert scientists said Adani's dodgy plans for endangered species would drive them to extinction - now Adani are breaching their own dodgy plans," Mr McCallum said.

"Adani has broken Australian laws again and cannot be trusted to protect threatened species or precious water."

Protect The Bush Alliance spokesperson Sheena Gillman said Adani's illegal activity was shocking and proved they cannot be trusted.

"We are losing species across Queensland due to climate impacts, drought and loss of habitat for mining," Ms Gillman said.

"Governments must stringently enforce conditions placed on these large mining developments, or we will witness the demise of many species and the extinction of the black-throated finch, which has already lost 88 per cent of its habitat.

"The remaining 12pc of black-throated finch habitat was in the Galilee Basin, right where Adani has been illegally clearing land for the Carmichael mine."