PEOPLE power may well have prevailed over the dumping at sea of dredge spoil from the port of Abbot Point.

On Monday, an article appeared in the Financial Review, stating that the two key proponents of that, GVK Hancock Coal and the Adani Group, would re-submit a proposal for the dredge spoil to be managed on land and not in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

While neither company has issued a statement confirming this, it would appear that land management is certainly now being considered.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said there may be an opportunity to avoid sea dumping, "but it will be dependent on the full environmental processes to ensure that the last component does have the option of being disposed of on land".

"There is an emerging option, which I have said we would welcome and we would consider on its merits against the law, and there is a very real chance this may come forward," he said. "It's [now] up to the proponents to submit it [and] we haven't seen any documentation [yet]."

Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association (WCBIA) president Tony Brown, who has been at the forefront of the tourism industry's fight to stop sea-dumping at Abbot Point, said he was hopeful that land management would prevail.

"Everything's now on the table and being investigated and I think the important thing is there are other options and they are being taken seriously," he said.

"I'm just really pleased they're looking at a real solution rather than just fighting to go ahead."

A spokesperson for Adani said the company had always promised to adhere to the best practice and best science, based on advice from technical experts and approving authorities.

"We are committed to ensuring the best options are in place to ensure this project is achieved, together with the best possible environmental outcomes," the spokesperson said.

Likewise, GVK Hancock Coal manager for corporate affairs, Josh Euler, said his company would continue to work with all parties "to ensure all possible options are fully assessed for the expansion of the Abbot Point port."

"To date, we've undertaken a comprehensive range of environmental assessments for our projects and will always aim to support the best environmental outcome for this development," he said.