Adani Mining chief executive David Boshoff has a clear message for the environmental activists and naysayers who have spent the past decade rallying against the $2 billion Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland – "it's happening".

Standing on the edge of the first pit being dug at the Carmichael mine, Mr Boshoff said the Indian-owned company was on track to start exporting thermal coal from next year, ramping up to a 10 million tonne output.