THE Whitsundays is again making waves in the fossil fuels debate, with the Federal Court last week overturning environmental approval for Adani's Carmichael Coal Mine and Rail Project.

The decision is intended to protect the habitat of the yakka skink and the ornamental snake, with local environment groups hailing the move a victory.

However, Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen said the backflip would leave unemployed Australians out in the cold.

"This region is suffering the effects of a downturn in the resource sector and we all know there has been a significant decline in jobs," he said.

Queensland Resources Council chairman Michael Roche agreed.

"This issue has rammed home to the man and woman in the street the real implications for the economy and jobs of the activists' wrecking tactics," he said.

"Maybe people will start to understand that there really is a well-funded and well-co-ordinated campaign being executed by activists."

Mr Christensen questioned the State Government's decision to fund groups that opposed the projects, saying it was "feeding the hand that's biting us".

"They've given $50,000 to Mackay Conservation Group - and this is the group who are doing their darndest to kill off 10,000 jobs," he said.

"This effectively means the State Labour government is paying them $5 for every job they aim to kill off."

Mr Christensen said he had recently spoken with Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who had indicated to him the approval delay was "largely an administrative issue".

"While we can't pre-empt a final decision about the project, the process we are now looking at should take no more than eight weeks," he said.