Coal mine supported in face of fears for reef

Australia on Thursday approved a controversial project backed by India to build one of the world's biggest coal mines despite conservationists' fears it threatens the Great Barrier Reef and vulnerable species and may worsen global climate change.

The Queensland state project was approved subject to "36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history", Environment Minister Greg Hunt said.

It came two months after the federal court blocked the $12.1 billion Carmichael Mine, largely in relation to its effect on two vulnerable reptiles - the lizardlike yakka skink and the ornamental snake.

"The rigorous conditions will protect threatened species and provide long-term benefits for the environment through the development of an offset package," Hunt said.

He added that he had the power to suspend or revoke the approval and impose penalties if there was a breach of conditions.

Adani, the Indian conglomerate, has faced numerous legal and approval hurdles for the huge open-cut and underground coal mine, plans for which are in the fifth year of development.

British bank Standard Chartered and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia have withdrawn as financial advisers, while major European and US banks have refused to fund the project because of environmental concerns.

Under the conditions, all advice from an independent scientific committee has to be implemented, 31,000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat will be protected and improved and groundwater at a nearby wetland will be monitored.

Some $730,000 of funding over 10 years also has to be allocated to research programs that boost the conservation of threatened species in the Galilee Basin.

Adani, which has hit out at activists and accused them of exploiting legal loopholes to stall the mine, welcomed Hunt's decision and the "rigorous and painstaking conditions".

"The final federal approval for the Carmichael Mine and North Galilee Basin Rail makes clear that these (conservation) concerns have been addressed, reflected in rigorous and painstaking conditions," the company said, referring to a new rail line which will transport the coal to port.

It said that the mine would create 10,000 jobs and generate $16 billion in taxes and royalties, although the figures have been disputed by critics, who argue that plunging coal prices were making the development financially unviable.

Despite the conditions, the Mackay Conservation Group - which brought the legal challenge to the federal court - said the approval "risks threatened species, precious groundwater, the global climate and taxpayers' money".