Hunter Valley open cut coal mine Credit:Michele Mossop Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the approved leases had undergone "extensive government and community scrutiny" and were a step towards securing jobs for region, with Adani estimating more than 5000 jobs expected to be generated during construction and more than 4000 during operation of the project. Adani job creation figures have been the subject of debate since last year after revelations in court found the mega-mine would create 1464 jobs per year, not the 10,000 jobs figure that was commonly associated with the project. "I know the people of north and central Queensland will welcome this latest progress for the potential jobs and economic development it brings closer for their communities," she said. An Adani spokesman said, with the leases approved, the company hoped to start construction on the mine sometime next year.

Adani's proposed mine and rail lines. "The granting of a mining lease helps deliver the company certainty with respect to timelines, while moving to the next phase of the project, subject to the resolution of legal challenges by politically-motivated activists," he said. "Adani has consistently said that what is required for its projects to proceed is certainty on approvals. "This key approval helps provide that with respect to Carmichael." The Adani spokesman said the mine's approvals were the "strictest of their kind" for a major Australian resources project.

"It is for this reason that conclusion of second tier approvals and resolution of politically-motivated legal challenges is the company's principal focus, prior to a final investment decision being made," he said. "Having previously sought to progress to the construction phase in 2015, Adani is keenly aware of the risks of proceeding on major works in advance of the conclusion of these matters. "Delivering low ash, low sulphur, lower emitting coal to thermal generators in India, while delivering jobs in regions crying out for them, and taxes and royalties to Queensland, is paramount." No dredging Dr Lynham confirmed no dredging at Abbot Point would take place until Adani had demonstrated financial closure.

The Premier said "stringent conditions would continue to protect the environment, landholders' and traditional owners' interests and Great Barrier Reef". More than 200 conditions apply to the project which, if it goes ahead, would be the largest coal mine in Australia. "The mine's environmental authority had about 140 conditions to protect local flora and fauna, groundwater and surface water resources, as well as controls on dust and noise," Dr Lynham said. "A further 99 stringent and wide-ranging conditions apply to the rail and port elements of the project." Three levels of government

The project now has 19 permits and approvals at all three levels of government, including nine primary approvals from the state and federal government. "A number of other steps have to be completed before mine construction can start," Dr Lynham said. "They include secondary approvals for rail, port facilities, power, water, roadworks and the airport and a financial assurance with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. "The independent Coordinator-General will continue to work with Adani to progress the project." Conservation groups dismayed

Numerous conservation groups have hit out at the approval, saying it will jeopardise the state's future and destroy national treasures like the Great Barrier Reef. Climate action lobby group 350 Australia is planning a protest outside Queensland's parliament tomorrow over Indian mining company's $16.5 billion Carmichael mine. Campaigner Moira Williams says in a statement today, as global temperatures hit terrifying levels and the Great Barrier Reef turns a deathly white, the absurdity of Ms Palaszczuk's government approving what she called "this monstrous coal project" cannot be understated. The Australian Conservation Foundation's chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy says the project poses an enormous threat to the reef, amid one of its worst coral bleaching events on record. Lobby group GetUp! says Dr Lynham is signing a death warrant for the reef if the state government approves it.

The Greens' environment spokeswoman Larissa Waters, a Queensland senator, said the proposed mine was "a disaster by every metric" and accused Labor and the Coalition of making "hollow promises" to protect the reef. "Right now our reef is getting cooked," she said. "Crying crocodile tears about coral bleaching while giving this dangerous mega mine the all-clear is both hypocritical and irresponsible." A spokeswoman for federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who last year granted his conditional approval for the mine, said the project had been promoted and approved by Queensland Labor, and the licensing decision was a matter for them. The project's financial merits have been the subject of sustained debate with Adani playing up the thousands of jobs that it claims would be created. But the Queensland Treasury described the project as unbankable and late last year the Commonwealth Bank's role as a financial adviser to the project ended. Several other banks have also ruled out lending to the project.

The controversy has delayed the project by a year and a half, over which time the price of coal has slumped drastically and other mines on the east coast are being closed or facing production cuts. Stay informed. Like Brisbane Times on Facebook - additional reporting by Cameron Atfield, Michael Koziol