An Indigenous Australian community is fighting to protect sacred springs from a coal mine

An Indigenous Australian community is engaged in a prolonged battle to safeguard the Doongmabulla Springs, a sacred site, from the encroachment of a coal mine. The Wangan and Jagalingou people, the traditional owners of the land, have been fighting this legal battle for almost a decade. The springs, which are of immense cultural and spiritual significance to the community, are threatened by the proposed Carmichael coal mine project. The community has raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of the mine, which they believe could irreparably damage the fragile ecosystem and disrupt the flow of the springs. The legal proceedings have been ongoing, with the Indigenous group challenging the mine's approval and seeking to preserve their ancestral connection to the land. The case highlights the ongoing struggle of Indigenous communities to protect their sacred sites and traditional lands in the face of resource extraction projects. The outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous Australians.