The final environmental authority (EA) has been granted for the project with about 140 conditions. Some of the conditions relate to the endangered black-throated finch as required by the Land Court of Queensland.
The approval follows the recommendation in 2015 from the Land Court of Queensland, which advised the approval of the project but with some additional environmental conditions.
The final permit is being opposed by the environmental groups which claim that the project could threaten the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager said: "This environmental authority waves through a project that threatens the health of the Great Barrier Reef, which is already suffering from climate change and pollution.
"As Australia’s largest coal mine, Carmichael will add to the global warming that is threatening the Reef.
"With the global coal market plummeting and countries like China, the US and even Vietnam phasing out new coal mines, the Queensland Government should be creating a transition plan for coal workers, not backing a dead-end project like Carmichael."
Greenpeace estimates the 28,000ha coal mine, upon reaching full production, would release 121 million tons of greenhouse gas annually and ship 60 million tons of coal directly through the Reef.
Planned to commence coal production in 2017, the Carmichael mine is estimated to hold 20 billion tons of JORC-compliant thermal coal resources, including 3.4 billion tons of measured and indicated resources.
Image: Greenpeace estimates the Carmichael coal mine could release 121 million tons of greenhouse gas annually. Photo: courtesy of dan/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
