Mining giants Rio Tinto and Adani on Monday donated $250,000 and $200,000 respectively to relief efforts for communities devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie in Queensland.
While Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk welcomed the contributions, her comments came as her government investigated whether environmental damage was caused by Adani's Abbot Point coal terminal as a result of the cyclone.
“I welcome this commitment from Rio Tinto Australia and its recognition of the support for families and communities severely affected by Debbie and associated flooding,” Ms Palaszczuk said in a statement.
“I would also like to acknowledge the work of Adani staff from Abbot Point to work with local area disaster teams to help restore public areas."
Satellite images of the Abbot Point terminal before and after Cyclone Debbie indicate spillage from the mine into neighbouring wetlands.
A spokesperson for Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection said an inquiry was launched after satellite images appeared to show "sediment-laden water" flowing into the Caley Valley.
She said the Indian mining and energy company had applied for and been granted a temporary emissions licence (TEL) during Cyclone Debbie, which relaxed or modified its operating conditions.
"A TEL does not authorise environmental harm," she said in a statement.
She said Adani was granted the licence to assist it with its water management at the Abbot Point facility during the cyclone.
An Adani spokesperson , the company has been working closely with the state government "to ensure that we comply with the special and rigorous conditions of the special licence".
The Abbot Point terminal in 2016 and after Cyclone Debbie (right). Source: Supplied
Mackay Conservation Group said the spill would likely affect the 40,000 shorebirds that inhabit the area during the wet season.
"These images show the lack of capacity Adani has to operate in a sensitive environment," Mackay Conservation Group coordinator Peter McCallum said in a statement.
"Adani wants to build a new coal terminal at the port that will involve extensive dredging in Great Barrier Reef waters, then pile the waste rock and mud alongside these wetlands.
"That will put the wetlands and the reef under even greater threat."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will meet with Adani founder Guatam Adani during his first official visit to India this week.
Mr Turnbull is expected to be asked to back a $900 million deal to build a rail line from Adani's planned Galilee Basin mine to the company's Abbot Point port.
