Port authority dismisses Greenpeace attack
THE port authority overseeing a massive planned expansion at Abbot Point Coal Terminal has dismissed an attack on its environmental credentials by Greenpeace.
North Queensland Bulk Ports was criticised by the environmental group for not including a greenhouse gas estimate for planned terminals.
In a statement, Greenpeace also attacked NQBP for leaving out information regarding the development's impact on a nearby Whitsunday Island and National Park.
An NQBP spokeswoman said its voluntary cumulative impact study for Abbot Point - created in a partnership with BHP Billiton, Adani and GVK Hancock Coal - covered carbon emissions.
She said Greenpeace wanted it to include emissions created from coal when it was processed after being exported.
"It is like building a car manufacturing centre in Geelong and saying that centre is responsible for the emissions that come from those cars," she said.
The spokeswoman said the second claim, one that material dredged material would end up on Holbourne Island had "no merit".
"Greenpeace is opposed to the coal industry as a whole, that is why they tried to make these claims," she said.
The six-week public comment period on the impact study ended at 5pm on Tuesday.
NQBP and its partners will now work through and respond to submissions.
