A new nearly $7 billion mega-mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin is a step closer after gaining approval from the state's coordinator-general, who released has an evaluation of the environmental impact statement (EIS), but conservationists say the decision is "reckless".

Key points: China Stone thermal coal project subject to strict conditions, a spokeswoman for Queensland State Development Minister says

China Stone thermal coal project subject to strict conditions, a spokeswoman for Queensland State Development Minister says Project gives "false hope" to Queenslanders who desperately want jobs, Australian Conservation Foundation says

Project gives "false hope" to Queenslanders who desperately want jobs, Australian Conservation Foundation says If the China Stone mine gains all approvals, it will take five years to construct

If the China Stone mine gains all approvals, it will take five years to construct Federal Environment Minister now sent EIS evaluation and has six weeks to make decision

MacMines AustAsia's 20,000-hectare China Stone thermal coal project is expected to produce 38 million tonnes of coal annually.

It will create thousands of jobs and is planned to be built alongside Adani's proposed mine in central Queensland, looping into the Indian project's planned railway line to Abbot Point.

The $6.7 billion project will contribute about $188 million annually in royalties to the Queensland Government during its first 25 years of operation.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, said the project was still subject to plenty of strict conditions.

"This is just another step in the process — not a final approval," the spokeswoman said.

Coordinator-general Barry Broe's approval of the China Stone Coal Project came with little fanfare this week when he signed off on the project, uploading his EIS evaluation.

"The project involves the development of a greenfield open-cut and underground thermal coal mine and associated infrastructure, including an airstrip, and accommodation village," a spokesperson for the coordinator-general said.

"Once fully operational, the mine will produce up to 38 million tonnes of thermal coal per annum for the export market."

Some of the conditions include MacMines having to avoid, or mitigate and manage, any impact on the black-throated finch habitat, groundwater and surface water resources.

It will also be required to progressively rehabilitate disturbed land throughout the life of the project to ensure it can sustain a post-mining land use.

'Giving false hope' of jobs for Queenslanders

Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive officers Kelly O'Shanassy said the approval was "reckless".

"The environment groups will not sit by and allow governments and corporations to build these coal mines which will threaten life on Earth because they fuel global warming" she said.

Ms O'Shanassy said the major environmental campaign in the Galilee Basin was focussed on Adani's project because it was the only one of the six mine proposals likely to get up.

"As far as we understand, the China Stone mine does not have financial backing and certainly has many approval to get so it will not be built tomorrow," she said.

"It is giving false hope to the people of Queensland who desperately want jobs.

"We respect that, but let's give people jobs that last and are going to be sustainable into the future, and they are jobs around renewable energy."

However, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said new projects in the Galilee Basin would further strengthen the long-term outlook for the industry and provide direct benefits to nearby regions.

"That means more high-paying jobs for regional Queenslanders, especially in places like Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton," Mr Macfarlane said.

"The resource industry is currently creating a new job every 40 minutes and over the past year has created some 10,000 jobs, so there's no false hope in that.

"That's reality, and we're seeing mines open not only in the Galilee Basin but right across the Bowen Basin and potentially in the Surat Basin."

Mr Macfarlane said the China Stone mine's future would "depend on the approvals process around environmental issues".

"But certainly within the next four or five years it is possible to see construction starting on this mine," he said.

"The resources industry adds $62.9 billion to the Queensland economy and supports 316,000 direct and indirect jobs.

"I really think conservationists have to wake up to themselves and realise that this coal will be burnt anyway in a power station somewhere in Asia and it is best that it is coal from Queensland, high-quality coal which gives Queenslanders jobs and pays royalty taxes to the Queensland Government which benefits all Queenslanders."

Final approvals still to come

The coordinator-general has previously approved five coal mines and three rail projects in the Galilee Basin. The China Stone Coal project is the sixth Galilee Basin coal project his office has assessed.

If the China Stone mine gains all approvals, it will take five years to construct, 300 kilometres west of Mackay, with Charter Towers and Clermont being the closest townships by road, being just over 250 kilometres away.

The proponent has committed to recruit workers locally where possible, who will travel to the site and stay in the project's accommodation village.

The Federal Environment Minister has been sent the EIS evaluation and now has six weeks to make a decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.