The Australian government on Thursday gave its approval to the Adani Group to go ahead with the $7-billion coal mine project. The approval was given subject to "36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history," Environment Minister Greg Hunt said.

The approval is based on the protection and improvement of 31,000 hectares of the southern black-throated finch habitat.

This will also require $1 million of funding for research programmes to improve conservation of the threatened species in the Galilee Basin.

“The previous decision to approve the project was set aside at the request of the Australian government in August 2015 as a precautionary measure. This was due to the possibility that the advice on the approval decision had not been provided in a particular manner which may have affected the validity of the decision,” Australia’s environment ministry said on its website.

“This approval follows a rigorous environmental assessment undertaken by the Queensland Coordinator-General under the One-Stop Shop assessment bilateral process. This assessment was reviewed and verified by the Australian Government Department of the Environment,” it added.

The Carmichael Mine and NGBR lie at the heart of Adani's plans to build a long-term future with Queensland.

In early August of this year, the approval granted by the Minister in July 2014 was partially set aside, following consent orders of the Federal Court to address a legal technicality in the approval process arising from a technical error on the part of the Environment Department.

Adani noted at the time that the company was confident in the soundness of the broader approvals, that the species involved had been protected by conditions, and that the technical error would be promptly rectified.

Today’s announcement of final federal approval for the Carmichael Mine and North Galilee Basin Rail by Minister Hunt makes clear that these concerns have been addressed, reflected in rigorous and painstaking conditions.

Adani has said for some time now that what is required for companies planning major job creating and infrastructure generating projects in Australia is certainty on approvals. It is certainty over the remaining approvals that are now key to the company progressing its plan to deliver mine, rail, and port projects in Queensland that will deliver 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $22 billion in taxes and royalties to be reinvested back into community services.

"Consistent with our public statements over the past several months, we look forward to the remaining government approvals and decision processes being dealt with promptly to ensure these job creating projects get back on track, so the much needed economic benefits of this project can commence and we can continue with our aspiration to build a long-term future with Queensland," Adani said in a press statement.