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Upbeat Adani prepares to mine in Qld

Mining giant Adani is hoping to get going at its controversial Carmichael coal mine within weeks with only one state hurdle still to clear.

The Adani logo.
Adani is optimistic that construction work will start at its central Queensland mine within weeks. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Adani is confident of getting the last state approval it needs to begin construction of a thermal coal mine in central Queensland within weeks.

The Indian firm won state government approval on Friday for its plan to protect the endangered black-throated finch, which lives on its central Queensland mine site.

It's now waiting on one last state approval, with the Department of Environment and Science due to decide on its groundwater management plan by June 13.

Adani Australia chief executive Lucas Dow expressed optimism on Friday about an imminent resumption of construction work.

The company is already working with contractors and suppliers to hit the ground running, should the department also sign off on the groundwater plan.

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"Ultimately, all things boding well, we should be away in weeks," he told reporters.

He said Adani modified its finch management plan to incorporate departmental demands, even though it didn't think some of them were really necessary to protect the species.

Mr Dow was asked to explain why fewer jobs are now on the cards from the mine, citing Adani's decision to downsize the project.

"We'll see 1,500 jobs created on the rail and mine project and a further 6,750 indirect jobs. We're talking about 8,250 jobs created through the ramp-up and construction of the project that currently don't exist in Queensland."

LNP Leader Deb Frecklington welcomed the long awaited approval saying the Palaszczuk government had delayed for years to stop new mines and destroy jobs in the resources industry.

"We want a thriving resources industry to create jobs, but the only job Annastacia Palaszczuk cares about is her own," she said.

Conservationists have accused the state Labor government of approving the finch plan for political reasons, and say Australians will now bear witness to the death of a species.


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