Relief as Santos dumps plan to release untreated CSG water near Queensland bum-breathing turtle habitat

Treated wastewater still proposed for the Dawson River, home to the white-throated snapping turtle

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Santos has ditched plans to release untreated coal seam gas wastewater into a Queensland river that provides critical habitat to two species of threatened bum-breathing" turtles.

But the oil and gas company is still seeking approval to release reverse osmosis treated" CSG wastewater into the Dawson River - a practice that an independent scientific committee found could still affect the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle and the vulnerable Fitzroy River turtle.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup