The Caley Valley wetlands surrounding Abbot Point provide nesting habitat for many birds including the vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe. The wetlands would be significantly impacted from the proposed coal port expansion at Abbot Point which includes dredging the seabed for the terminal and dumping the sludge within the wetlands. Coal dust from coal trains transporting coal to the port would spoil the water and fluvial flow of the delicate ecosystem.