THE ongoing battle by environmental groups and local tourist operators to save the Great Barrier Reef has taken another blow following the approval of dredge spoil dumping off Abbot Point.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has announced that it had approved the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation's permit to dispose of dredge spoil at a deep water location offshore of Abbot Point.

But authority chairman Russell Reichelt said the permit was subject to strict environmental conditions.

"As a deepwater port that has been in operation for nearly 30 years, Abbot Point is better placed than other ports along the Great Barrier Reef coastline to undertake expansion, as the capital and maintenance dredging required will be significantly less than what would be required in other areas," he said.

"It's important to note the seafloor of the approved disposal area consists of sand, silt and clay and does not contain coral reefs or seagrass beds."

The corporation said the authority made an informed decision and acknowledged the thorough approach taken to reach the approval of its sea dumping permit.

"This approval acknowledges that scientific evidence is critical for informing decisions and reinforces the importance of substantiated facts," a corporation spokesman said.

"The approval requires a number of management plans in which (the corporation) will involve a range of stakeholders, including scientific experts, government agencies, indigenous, conservation, tourism and fishing representatives."

Greenpeace said the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's approval of a permit to dump spoil on the reef was another hit for the World Heritage-listed site and would increase the likelihood that UNESCO listed it as 'in danger' later in 2014.

"This go-ahead for dumping is one more body blow for the reef, which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries," Greenpeace reef campaigner Louise Matthiesson said.

The authority initially had a Christmas Eve deadline to decide whether it would approve or reject the proposed dumping location but extended the decision

Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer Michael Roche praised the authority's decision on the approval.

"I'm pleased that (the authority) has not been swayed by the emotive activists' campaigns," he said.

"Dredge sediment won't be removed from, or deposited on, the reef, seagrass meadows or any other areas of high conservation value identified by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority."