An Indigenous Australian community in Central Queensland is fighting to protect Doongmabulla Springs, a sacred site, from the Carmichael coal mine owned by Bravus (formerly Adani). The springs are crucial to the community's culture and are potentially threatened by groundwater contamination from mining activities. Scientific studies suggest a greater impact on groundwater than initially predicted by Bravus, whose groundwater models have been deemed inadequate. While the government banned underground mining near the springs, Bravus is challenging the ban. The community is deeply divided, with some accepting compensation for the mine's impact, while others fiercely oppose it, highlighting the conflict between economic development and Indigenous rights.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.