The country's largest proposed coal mine is once again heading for the courts, with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) launching what it has called a "historic, landmark case".

It has lodged papers in the Federal Court in Brisbane arguing Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt failed to consider whether the impact of burning coal and climate pollution would be inconsistent with Australia's international obligations to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

ACF president Geoff Cousins said the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act stated that the Minister must not act inconsistently with Australia's responsibilities under the United National's World Heritage convention.

"This is the first time in history that the grounds that are in these documents have been brought to a court in Australia," he said.

Indian mining company Adani wants to build a $16 billion mine and rail line in Queensland's Galilee Basin, but has faced repeated challenges.

The Mackay Conservation Group successfully got the Federal Court to set aside the mine in August by exposing a bureaucratic bungle over two vulnerable species, the yakka skink and ornamental snake.

Despite the setback, in October Mr Hunt re-approved the project with 36 conditions.

Mr Cousins said he believed this latest challenge would succeed.

"The aim of the Australian Conservation Foundation ... is to stop this mine," he said.

"We are not interested at all in delaying tactics and I have to say in the 50-year history of the Australian Conservation Foundation, we have only brought seven cases.

"If we are successful, then the ACF... will have brought a case that will greatly strengthen the environmental laws in this country."

'Politically motivated activists' seek to 'endlessly delay' project

A spokesperson for Adani said in a statement that the announcement by the ACF was "the latest in a litany of attempts by politically motivated activists seeking to endlessly delay new job-creating projects in Queensland".

"Adani has consistently said what is required for major job-creating resource projects to proceed in this state, and in Australia more broadly, is regulatory and approvals certainty," the spokesperson said.

"It is one thing for a project's approval to be challenged - it is quite another to wait for previous challenges to fail, then launch new ones on different grounds over and over again, seeking endless delay, and endlessly abusing process.

"At this time, it is worth restating that the proposed mine at Carmichael has been approved, and subsequently re-approved, with the strictest conditions ever handed down under the EPBC Act.

"Adani is confident in the soundness of Minister Hunt's approval of the mine under the act.

"Indeed, when Minister Hunt announced that the mine had been re-approved, some activist groups went so far as to indicate they would launch an appeal despite not being sure of the grounds on which to do so."

Awaiting approval 'for six years'

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said another legal challenge could delay the proposed coal mine by a year.

QRC chief executive officer Michael Roche dismissed the latest challenge as a "nonsense".

Some conditions imposed on Adani: Implement advice from Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development

Implement advice from Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development Protect and improve 31,000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat

Protect and improve 31,000 hectares of southern black-throated finch habitat $1 million research funding to improve conservation of threatened species over 10 years

$1 million research funding to improve conservation of threatened species over 10 years Protect Doongmabulla Springs through monitoring of groundwater and triggers to enforce limits

"Arguing that Australian coal mines are responsible for the use of our coal in customer countries would be like saying Saudi Arabia should be responsible for the emissions from Australian motorists using Saudi Arabian petroleum," he said.

"There is simply no end to the opportunities in our legal system for the activists to use the federal and Queensland court systems.

"My challenge to our politicians is: when is enough, enough?"

Mr Roche said Adani has spent six years navigating the Australian approvals system.

A spokesperson for Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement the Adani project was approved in accordance with national environment law.

"All matters that could have been considered have been taken into account and 36 of the strictest conditions in Australia history have been imposed on the project," the spokesperson said.

"The Government won't comment on specific matters before the courts."

Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said the State Government was considering the issue of protracted legal challenges.

"Everyone deserves their day in court, but not their four years in court," he said.

"We're a Government that listens. I'll be taking everyone with me on this journey, including miners, environmental groups, the community as a whole.

"I'll be talking with everyone and we'll make a landing on that in the future."