The decision to postpone construction of a coal mine in central Queensland for nearly three months has been welcomed by environmental group Greenpeace.
The proposed coal mine at Kevin's Corner will be the first to be assessed against the new "water trigger" added to federal environment laws in June.
Greenpeace says the new mine would be larger than any existing coal mine in Australia and would use over nine billion litres of water every year.
Approval for the proposal will be dependent on its impact on groundwater supplies in the region.
"Although we believe there are strong grounds to reject this destructive proposal outright, we're heartened that the new Environment Minister Mark Butler has delayed the approval to allow more time for the impacts on groundwater to be properly investigated," Greenpeace Queensland campaigner Louise Matthiesson said in a statement.
"We urge the minister to take a similar approach with the decision due this Friday on the controversial plans for dredging in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area at Abbot Point in north Queensland."
