That is my concern as well.  However, the Adani mine is just the tip, there are a number of other mines by larger companies at under application. 

Authorised Holder Name      Permit Name      Permit Number      Size km2      Status
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL      ML 70441      260      Granted
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL EAST      ML 70505      135      Granted
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL NORTH      ML 70506      16      Granted
ALPHA COAL PTY LTD      SOUTH GALILEE COAL PROJECT      ML 70453      309      Application
HANCOCK COAL PTY LTD      ALPHA      ML 70426      324      Application
HANCOCK GALILEE PTY LTD      KEVIN'S CORNER      ML 70425      374      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS EAST      ML 70514      49      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS SOUTH      ML 70515      47      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS WEST      ML 70516      47      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS CENTRAL      ML 70517      32      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS NORTH      ML 70518      26      Application
WARATAH COAL PTY LTD      NORTH ALPHA MINING LEASE      ML 70489      1048      Application
WARATAH COAL PTY LTD      CHINA FIRST COAL PROJECT      ML 70454      756      Application

As you can see adani at best, is one of the moderate sized operations due to be potentially approved in the area.  If all approved, some 3423 square km will be used for mining.  The environmental impact will be perhaps twice of that, and due to the fact that coal mining is very water intense, it will draw on the existing supply of water from the river systems.  This will be in competition to the current local major economic activities dominated by agriculture, forestry and fishing.   The use of waters from existing river system, and the great artesian basin, and the risk of contamination will have the potential to effect a greater area into NT, NSW and SA. 

Just assume the best possible senario, is that all of these projections combined will bring in a total of 10000 direct jobs, into an area population of 12000.  In order to cope with this increase in demand, there will have to be increased spending on infrastrutures to support what it is a transient population.   After the life of the mine had finished usually 30 years, the economical activities of the areas will die down, and by then, there will be no going back to farmying forestry or fishing as you will have containmnated zones that is good for nothing for hundreds of years. 

That is my concern as well.  However, the Adani mine is just the tip, there are a number of other mines by larger companies at under application. 

Authorised Holder Name      Permit Name      Permit Number      Size km2      Status
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL      ML 70441      260      Granted
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL EAST      ML 70505      135      Granted
ADANI MINING PTY LTD      CARMICHAEL NORTH      ML 70506      16      Granted
ALPHA COAL PTY LTD      SOUTH GALILEE COAL PROJECT      ML 70453      309      Application
HANCOCK COAL PTY LTD      ALPHA      ML 70426      324      Application
HANCOCK GALILEE PTY LTD      KEVIN'S CORNER      ML 70425      374      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS EAST      ML 70514      49      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS SOUTH      ML 70515      47      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS WEST      ML 70516      47      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS CENTRAL      ML 70517      32      Application
MACMINES AUSTASIA PTY LTD      PCS NORTH      ML 70518      26      Application
WARATAH COAL PTY LTD      NORTH ALPHA MINING LEASE      ML 70489      1048      Application
WARATAH COAL PTY LTD      CHINA FIRST COAL PROJECT      ML 70454      756      Application

As you can see adani at best, is one of the moderate sized operations due to be potentially approved in the area.  If all approved, some 3423 square km will be used for mining.  The environmental impact will be perhaps twice of that, and due to the fact that coal mining is very water intense, it will draw on the existing supply of water from the river systems.  This will be in competition to the current local major economic activities dominated by agriculture, forestry and fishing.   The use of waters from existing river system, and the great artesian basin, and the risk of contamination will have the potential to effect a greater area into NT, NSW and SA. 

Just assume the best possible senario, is that all of these projections combined will bring in a total of 10000 direct jobs, into an area population of 12000.  In order to cope with this increase in demand, there will have to be increased spending on infrastrutures to support what it is a transient population.   After the life of the mine had finished usually 30 years, the economical activities of the areas will die down, and by then, there will be no going back to farmying forestry or fishing as you will have containmnated zones that is good for nothing for hundreds of years.