The approval, which will last for 50 years, also allows Santos and to install all the necessary production infrastructure.

The conditional approval requires the oiler protect threatened and migratory species such as the Curly-bark wattle and not exceed maximum disturbance levels.

The company needs to conduct pre-disturbance surveys and prepare species management plans, and organise offsets for the work.

It also needs to submit a groundwater management and monitoring plan to the Commonwealth, and the minister can seek the advice of an expert panel before giving his approval.

Groundwater drawdown cannot exceed 0.2 metres at key springs.

The approvals are an extension of the existing approved project to support GLNG and are aimed at ensuring sufficient gas is available to support the plant for 30 years.

The approval increases the GLNG JV's tenure from 6887sq.km to 10,676sq.km and could potentially see 8750 wells drilled, more than the previously outlined 2650 wells.

The gas will primarily come from the Arcadia, Fairview, Roma and Scotia fields.