Two bottles containing 500,000-year-old water have been collected from the outback and flown over 2,000km to Melbourne. It was at the city’s convention centre that global experts in groundwater heard a warning that the Doongmabulla Springs could one day run dry if the Australian government continues to approve coal extraction nearby.
Since 2021, Bravus, a subsidiary of Indian-owned energy giant Adani, has been drilling into the ground to create its open-pit Carmichael coal mine, 11km away. Hydrogeologists from multiple universities have raised concerns that its works could unintentionally drain the aquifer that feeds the spring. This has been disputed by Bravus, which told Yahoo News the springs are “not at risk” from its mine now or into the future.
Bravus maintains the springs will be protected from its mining by a thick layer of sandstone called the Rewan Formation, and this has been accepted by the government. But a peer-reviewed paper published in 2024 concluded the mine will “likely” impact water flow feeding the springs.
Professor dubs mine ‘greatest threat’ to springs
Griffith University’s Professor Matthew Currell, an author of that paper and attendee at the conference, said he believes the mine is the “greatest threat” to the springs.
“The threat is very real and very imminent. The mine is at its early stages, and already around the mine site, we’ve seen indications of groundwater levels changing pretty significantly,” he told Yahoo News.
“Some of the research we’ve been doing over the past few years indicates there are areas where there is a high level of connectivity within the geological systems, meaning if mining continues to expand, there’s an imminent threat the springs may dry up and we will lose them.”
The Doongmabulla Springs support an ecosystem in Queensland’s arid centre. Source: Tom Jefferson
Moment 500,000-year-old water bottled
Gurridyula, a Wangan and Jagalingou man, from Central Queensland, explained the springs are believed to be the final resting place of the Rainbow Serpent. He has actively campaigned against the mine, because he is concerned about its impact on his ancestral lands.
“When we get to the springs, we always let the old people know we’re there,” he told Yahoo News.
“We have to wash ourselves in the water, our necks and underneath our arms, to put our scent in the water. And obviously, we’re not taking more than what we need. It’s there for us to take care of and for animals as well.”
What will happen with the water?
This week, Gurridyula told the 52nd Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists that he is concerned by reports that the springs are being damaged. And that he has a “responsibility” as a caretaker of the springs to look after them.
“Water is the lifeblood of who we are as the eel people from Doongmabulla. It gives everything around us life as well. And it joins us with other groups around the country who are also connected to the springs,” he later told Yahoo News.
Gurridyula collected the water on Sunday afternoon, placed it in a cool bag, and then carried it to the conference, where it was placed inside a “torch” which contains important water samples from all over Australia. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to bring water from the bush, from our sacred springs, down to the big city,” Gurridyula said.
The water will be flown to Hungary’s capital, Budapest, where the 53rd conference will take place in 2026.
In a statement, Currell said Gurridyula’s participation highlights “the importance of springs and the urgent need to protect them from over-development of groundwater”.
“Gurridyula is sounding the alarm to the world that we must listen to the land and its Indigenous custodians, and help them honour their responsibility to leave these incredible freshwater springs in a healthy state for future generations,” he said.
Gurridyula arriving at the 52nd Congress of the International Association of Hydrogeologists in Melbourne, and meeting with Professor Matt Currell. Source: Supplied
Mining giant presents five papers at water conference
Bravus also presented at the conference in Melbourne, sharing the results of five research papers on groundwater it has collaborated on with an audience of hydrogeologists.
Addressing concerns about its mine’s impact on the Doongmabulla springs, it told Yahoo News in an email there is “no evidence of any harm” caused by its open-cut mining operations.
It then said science “proves” that the right “checks and balances” are protecting groundwater and accused “anti-coal activists” of trying to “dupe the community” by spreading “misinformation”.
“We stand by our comprehensive groundwater monitoring program which has scientists on the ground every two months to observe and record water levels and water quality at more than 135 sites. This program has measured more than two million data points since 2012,” it added.
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