Brisbane bus delay warning for anti-Adani protest
Buses to and from the Brisbane CBD could be delayed on Friday afternoon as students protesting the Queensland government's decision to approve Adani's Carmichael coal mine march across the Victoria Bridge.
The 5pm march could interrupt some of the Brisbane City Council bus fleet, which uses Victoria Bridge to travel to and from the city's southern suburbs.
At evening peak hour, the Victoria Bridge is jammed with buses because most stop at the Cultural Centre station on the southern end of the Victoria Bridge.
Police are aware of student plans and will monitor the protest across the bridge.
On Friday afternoon, a Facebook event for the protest, showed 1200 students planning to attend, although those figures are generally unreliable.
The council issued a warning on social media warning commuters warning of possible delays if large number of students arrived.
"Brisbane City Council has been notified of a planned protest march on Friday 21 June from 5pm," the message to commuters says.
"The procession is expected to commence in Reddacliff Place [opposite the Treasury Casino at the top end of Queen Street] and finish at the ABC building in South Brisbane.
"Members of the public are encouraged to take into consideration potential road closures and impacts on travelling if they are planning to be in the vicinity at this time."
TransLink said buses were likely to be delayed on Friday evening. A spokeswoman said changes would be made to bus routes if necessary.
"From approximately 5pm on Friday 21 June, buses travelling through Brisbane CBD may be delayed due to a protest march in the CBD," TransLink said.
Translink's updates page will continue to inform commuters through the afternoon.
The protest march is organised by two groups: University Students for Climate Justice and M.A.D, the Movement Against Destruction.
Adrian Burragubba, a leader of the Wangan and Jagalingou traditional owners of the Galilee Basin who has been fighting the mine in court, is speaking at the protest.
Mr Burragubba is among a small group fighting a Federal Court case alleging proper checks weren't done to ensure community members who voted on the proposed mine were entitled to have a say.
Queensland's Environment Department on June 13 approved Adani Mining's groundwater management plan, with many conditions, which identifies how the company plans to extract a minimum of 10 million tonnes of coal per year and not impact ancient underground springs to the south of the mine site.