A north Queensland conservation group said that the planned expansion of the Abbot Point coal port, north of Townsville, will have far-reaching environmental consequences.

The State Government's plans for the facility, north of Bowen, have been expanded from three coal terminals to nine.

Mackay Conservation Group spokesman Patricia Julien said that waterways and communities within a 500-kilometre radius of the port will be affected. She added that "Impacts on the Belyando River, with pollution flowing from these massive mines right out to the reef and airborne pollution from the coal dust from the trains.”

She further said that "It's one of the highest pollution risks that there'll be to the nationally-listed wetlands. We've got 20,000 bird species that use those wetlands."

She says she is concerned the Government will keep expanding the port, regardless of the environmental impact.

(Sourced from www.abc.net.au)