Hunt also approved the Adani Group’s plans to build a terminal at Abbot Point coal terminal 0, which would be adjacent to the Abbot Point X50 coal terminal it leases from the Queensland government under a $1.83 billion 99-year deal.

Adani claims it will be able to export 35 million tonnes of coal per annum from Abbot Point coal terminal 0.

“These projects are for existing developed port and industrial sites and have been approved subject to the highest environmental standards and conditions,” Hunt said.

“As federal environment minister, one of my key responsibilities is to ensure ecologically sustainable development and maintaining the health of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Queensland Resources Council CEO Michael Roche said the trading ports working alongside the Great Barrier Reef were responsible for the export of commodities worth $40 billion a year to the Australian economy and the conditions imposed for staged dredging of a commercial trading port 40km from the reef would ensure minimum environmental damage.

“Minister Hunt’s decision confirms what we have known for the past 38 years of industry coexistence with the reef,” Roche said.

“We have the wherewithal in Australia to protect world heritage and environmental values because we have a standard of living that affords us such choices.”

Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the approvals would provide a much-needed boost to Queensland’s coal and coal seam gas industries.

“We welcome this common-sense decision from the Commonwealth government that will encourage growth in Queensland’s resources sector and underpin future jobs in the coal and coal seam gas sector,” Seeney said.

“Australia’s longest and most comprehensive assessment process has produced some of the strictest environmental conditions in Australia’s history.

“That is only right and proper given that we are protecting Australia’s and Queensland’s most important asset, the Great Barrier Reef.

“Expanding the Port of Abbot Point is crucial to opening up the rich coal resources of the Galilee Basin and we are pleased that the Abbott government has seen fit to bring an end to Labor delays on this important project.”

Seeney said the amount of dredging that would take place at Abbot Point under the process was a tenth of that proposed by the former Labor government.

“Labor would have allowed up to 35 million cubic metres of dredging – under the Newman government’s environmentally responsible plan, just 3 million cubic metres will take place,” he said.

The Draft Queensland Ports Strategy proposed that the material produced by dredging be used to enhance onshore port precincts.