The Queensland explorer has previously aimed to start construction of the southern Bowen Basin thermal coal project in the September quarter of 2014 but still needs to win environmental and perhaps some more community approval.

“The next three to six months are critical for us," Gray told a business breakfast.

Of 12 landowners who were directly impacted by the project, Bandanna has reportedly struck nine compensation agreements while two were “almost finished” and one “remained outstanding”

Bandanna said there were six objections to Springsure Creek’s three mining lease applications and associated draft environmental authority applications in April.

There were four left as of two weeks ago when a second objection was withdrawn.

First development coal from the project has previously been forecast to occur in 2015.

The Springsure Creek project is initially targeting 5.5 million tonnes per annum of capacity with first longwall coal expected in the second half of 2016.