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Your search for Environmental Protection returned 131 record/s.
Development of Shale Oil in Queensland There are a number of companies in Queensland investing in alternative fuels projects that could lead to Queensland becoming a major producer of non-conventional oil to meet national demand and for export. Queensland contains 94 per cent of Australia’s known oil shale resources. There are potential environmental concerns related to development of shale oil, including: very large-scale mining in
Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2008 The Bill amends the Environmental Protection Act 1994, Dangerous Goods Safety Management Act 2001, Integrated Planning Act 1997, and Nature Conservation Act 1992. The Bill moves into the Environmental Protection Act the current offence provisions in the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, the Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997 and the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 1997 rela
The Koala Population in South East Queensland Cabinet considered a submission regarding the koala population in South East Queensland. The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016, known as the ‘Koala Plan’, commenced on 2 October 2006 to protect the koala throughout its range in Queensland and to stop the decline and recover the South East Queensland population. However, recent studies indicate that
Policy for Biodiversity Offsets The Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (QGEOP) commenced on 1 July 2008. It provides a consistent framework for the use of environmental offsets (i.e. positive actions to compensate for unavoidable negative environmental impacts resulting from an activity or a development) where the Queensland Government is a decision-maker or leads the assessment of impacts on environmental values
Greenhouse Gas Storage Bill 2008 The main purpose of the Greenhouse Gas Storage Bill 2008 is to provide the tenure framework to administer the process called greenhouse gas geological storage, also called greenhouse gas storage (GHG storage) or geosequestration. The tenure framework will be the cornerstone for all greenhouse gas storage projects planned for Queensland. It provides for the granting of authorities to explore for
Government Response to Koala Taskforce Report The Premier and the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation announced in August 2008 that there was a crisis in koala numbers in South-east Queensland (SEQ), primarily in the urban footprint of the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005 - 2026 (SEQ Regional Plan). The Premier also announced the formation of a specialised Koala Taskforce to investigate and report on this issue
Revocation of certain areas of the Protected Area Estate The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the largest day-to-day land manager in Queensland, with over 1,000 protected areas and State forests covering more than 11 million hectares under its control. The areas that are the subject of this submission are currently being used, or are proposed to be used, for purposes that are inconsistent with the management principles set out in the Nature Con
Environ Protection (Air) Policy 2008 and Environ Protection (Noise) Policy 2008 The Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 1997 and the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 1997 are the main legislative instruments for managing air and acoustic quality in Queensland. The Policies are subordinate legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The proposed Environmental Protection (Air) Policy 2008 and the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008 identify the va
Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 The Environmental Protection Regulation 1998 is a mechanism for achieving the object of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, which is to protect the environment while providing for ecologically sustainable development. The 1998 Regulation was due to expire on 31 August 2008 but has been extended to allow the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 to commence on 1 January 2009. The new Regulat
Great Barrier Reef Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) The Emerald Agreement provides the current basis for arrangements between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments concerning the management of the Great Barrier Reef and was signed on 14 June 1979. The proposed IGA will incorporate or replace all current Emerald Agreement documents. The Ministerial Council may add, remove and amend schedules to the proposed agreement, with the exception of Sc
Review of the Moreton Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan 2008 The current Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning plan, which has been reviewed prior to expiry, protects 0.5 percent of the marine park in marine national parks or no take “green zones”. A consultation draft zoning plan was released in December 2007, proposing protection of 15% of Moreton Bay in marine national park “green zones”. The EPA held six public information sessions in communities adjacent to
Issues Paper for the Review of the Qld Govt climate change strategy The Queensland Government is reviewing, updating and consolidating its ClimateSmart 2050: Queensland climate change strategy 2007 - a low carbon future (ClimateSmart 2050) and Queensland’s ClimateSmart Adaptation 2007-12: An action plan for managing the impacts of climate change (ClimateSmart Adaptation 2007-12). The Issues Paper includes questions which will focus community and stakeholder feedba
Fitzroy River Basin Following major local flooding in January 2008, a number of coal mines in the Fitzroy River Basin were flooded. Several mines, including the Ensham coal mine, applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval to discharge mine affected flood waters. In mid-2008 water monitoring indicated that salinity was increasing in waterways, dams and weirs downstream of the Ensham discharge.
Green Army The global financial crisis has resulted in a rapid deterioration in world growth. The consequence of slowed economic growth in Queensland is a predicted rise in unemployment in 2009-10 to well over 6%. To increase job creation efforts targeted at the long-term unemployed and young unemployed people – as part of its recent employment election commitment the Government announced the Green Army to
Pacific Adventurer Oil Spill At approximately 3:15am on Wednesday 11 March 2009, the container ship Pacific Adventurer lost 31 containers each containing 19.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, about seven nautical miles east of Cape Moreton. The falling containers ruptured the ship’s fuel tanks, causing it to leak approximately 270 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, which subsequently impacted southern Queensland shorelines. Maritime Safe
The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) launched in 2003 was a 10-year joint Australian and Queensland government commitment to halting and reversing the decline in water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. Its objectives were to reduce pollutants such as sediments, nutrients and pesticides in waterways flowing to the Reef and to rehabilitate and conserve areas of the catchm
Wild Dogs In 2008 the Premier engaged Mr Peter Kenny to undertake a review of the Queensland Wild Dog Strategy and the Memorandum of Understanding for the management of wild dogs inside the wild dog barrier and check fences. The 22 recommendations arising from this review have now been considered by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. The Department supports or supports in p
Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 is Queensland’s primary legislative instrument for managing water quality, and is subordinate legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 delivers the object of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 in relation to Queensland waters. The Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2009 (EPP (W
Private Investment in tourism infrastructure Tourism on Queensland’s protected areas is an important contributor to Queensland’s economy. Tourism opportunities in semi-permanent low impact eco-tourism infrastructure on and adjacent to Queensland’s protected areas will be offered while retaining State ownership. Strict sustainability guidelines will ensure minimal impact on the surrounding environment and proponents will be required to dem
Tourism in Protected Areas Tourism on Queensland’s protected areas is an important contributor to Queensland’s economy. Providing a system of management that enables the development of a sustainable nature-based tourism industry and ensures minimal impact on the unique natural values of our protected areas are fundamental objectives of the Tourism in Protected Areas policy. This policy also creates a more secure and busine
Commonwealth - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme The Commonwealth Government is in the process of implementing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and a voluntary carbon offsets scheme that will provide opportunities for landholders (both freehold and leasehold), with vegetation that is eligible under the rules of the schemes, to enter carbon markets and to generate revenue, offset greenhouse gas emissions, and provide environmental ben
Queensland Coastal Plan A review of the State Coastal Management Plan (2002) was completed in May 2009 in accordance with the requirements of the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Coastal Act). The review of the 2002 plan and associated legislative framework for coastal protection and management found that significant revision of the State Coastal Management Plan was required. The findings of the review are s
Great Barrier Reef Protection Amendment Bill 2009 The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is an outstanding World Heritage site contributing 63,000 jobs and nearly $6 billion annually to the State economy, mainly from tourism. Agriculture in the GBR catchment, primarily cattle grazing and cane farming, is the major source of nutrients, sediment and pesticide run off to the Reef lagoon; the primary drivers of long term decline in Reef health. In October 200
Release of the Regulatory Impact Statement to amend the Recreation Areas Management Regulation 2007 In July 2008 the Minister released the Strategic Directions for Cooloola Paper which outlined the Government's long-term vision to protect the Cooloola coast region’s unique ecosystem while maintaining public access to one of Queensland’s most popular recreation areas. Among other things, the Strategic Directions Paper proposed an amendment to the Recreation Areas Management Regulation 2007 to cre
Final Regional Plans developed under the Blueprint for the Bush initiative The Central West, South West and Maranoa-Balonne Regional Plans (the plans) aim to build sustainable, liveable and prosperous regions for the next 20 years. The key outcome for each region is to strengthen and diversify economic activities in the region. The plans are prepared under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 and are the first regional plans to be prepared in western Queensland. The Central
Draft State Planning Policy - Air Noise and Hazardous Materials The Queensland Government is considering introducing a State Planning Policy (SPP) under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 (replaced by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009). The draft State Planning Policy (SPP): Air, Noise and Hazardous Materials would apply throughout the State of Queensland. If the draft SPP were to become a State Planning Policy, it would influence those land use planning and d
Environmental Protection and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2009 The Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (QGEOP) establishes a framework for using environmental offsets in Queensland. It provides principles and guidelines for applying and developing more detailed specific-issue offsets policies for important environmental values such as vegetation and fish habitat. Under QGEOP, environmental impacts from development must first be avoided and
Qld Timber Plantations Strategy The Queensland Timber Plantations Strategy (QTPS) is a commitment under the Queensland Government’s 2007 ClimateSmart 2050 Strategy and the 2009 ClimateQ: Toward a Greener Queensland document. The QTSP is a whole-of-government strategy designed to articulate and deliver on the Queensland Government’s policy objective of encouraging new private investment in commercial (large scale) timber plantati
Senate FADTR Committee Inquiry - Torres Strait In 2009, the Senate made a referral to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for an inquiry and report on the ‘administration and management of matters relating to Australia’s northern air, sea and land approaches in the region of the Torres Strait’ (the Inquiry). Information for the Inquiry was sought primarily from those agencies which are part of the Queensland Torres Strait
Implementing the Koala Response Strategy In December 2008 Cabinet endorsed the Koala Response Strategy which commits the Queensland Government to ensuring a net gain in koala habitat in south east Queensland by 2020 and to implement a range of further measures to reverse declines in koala populations in the region. In July 2009 the new SEQ Regional Plan identified 14 koala populations and committed the Queensland Government to ensure the
Vegetation Mgt Amendment Bill 2009 The Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 implements regrowth vegetation protection to protect endangered regrowth vegetation and landscapes that badly need trees to perform their ecological function and address the tree clearing impacting on the Great Barrier Reef. It also makes a number of reforms to streamline and improve the administration of vegetation management in
Draft Biodiversity Strategy for Queensland Queensland has some unique ecosystems that support a range of species, almost half of which are found nowhere else in the world. Hosting such a wealth of natural diversity creates a responsibility to conserve this natural heritage for the sake of generations to come. Queensland’s biodiversity also helps to support the state’s economy with tourism, commercial fishing and a range of recreational
Amendments Recreation Areas Mgt Reg 2007 to declare Cooloola Recreation Area In July 2009 the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability released a Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) which explored the options available for managing the Cooloola area including requirements for and costs of vehicle access permits. Revenue from the fees will be applied to managing visitor impacts, funding necessary visitor facilities, such as barbeques, showers, toilets and campgrounds a
Outdoor Recreation and Greenspace Strategy The Queensland Greenspace Strategy (QGS) delivers on the Government’s Toward Q2: Tomorrow’s Queensland State-wide target of protecting 50 per cent more land for nature conservation and public recreation by 2020 in line with the strategic directions and vision for our State. The Strategy will primarily focus on policies to expand non-protected area greenspace where public accessibility and use
Wetlands State Planning Policy Package In 2009, the Queensland Government made an election commitment to protect freshwater wetlands of high ecological significance within Great Barrier Reef catchments (GBR HES wetlands). The government also committed to protecting GBR wetlands under the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). This package contains two primary components—amendments to regulations to make high impact earthworks
North Stradbroke Island Vision In 2009 the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation commenced preparation of a plan for North Stradbroke Island that addressed a transition strategy to phase out mining and resolve native title through mediation so as to enable appropriate land allocation and national park dedication. Cabinet approved the North Stradbr
Queensland Electric Vehicle Roadmap Electric vehicles (EVs) are internationally recognised as an important emerging technology for reducing road transport emissions, improving domestic energy security and supporting clean-tech industry development. The arrival of EVs presents a number of issues and opportunities for Queensland including: Environmental impacts of EVs; Impacts to Energy Generation and Electricity Transmission and Dist
Wild Rivers - Wenlock Basin Wild Rivers Declaration In December 2008, the Government released the Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration Proposal. The Wenlock River exhibits water flows, water quality, sediments transport processes and ecosystems in near-pristine condition. A wild river declaration details the criteria new development proposals must meet to ensure the protection of the river’s natural values. The declaration details the extent of t
Draft SPP Protecting Wetlands of High Ecological Significance in Great Barrier Reef Catchments The draft State Planning Policy: Protection Wetlands of High Ecological Significance in Great Barrier Reef Catchments (SPP) seeks to ensure that development in or adjacent to wetlands of high ecological significance in Great Barrier Reef catchments is planned, designed, constructed and operated to prevent the loss or degradation of wetlands and their values; or enhances these values, in particular
Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2010 The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 amends a range of legislation administered by the Department of Environment and Resource Management. This Bill introduces amendments that are consistent with the whole-of-government Regulatory Simplification Plan including amendments to the: Environmental Protection Act 1994 which will ensure industry does not pay fees for a r
Qld Waste Reduction and Recycling Strategy 2010-2020 Queensland’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Strategy 2010-2020 (the Strategy) provides a long-term strategic direction for waste management and resource recovery over the next 10 years. The goals of the Strategy are to: reduce waste; optimise recovery and recycling; and develop sustainable waste industries and sustainable jobs. To achieve the goals, the Strategy is supported by five key elements
State Planning Policy Air Noise and Hazardous Materials The Queensland Government publicly released the draft State Planning Policy for Air, Noise and Hazardous Materials (SPP) for consultation in late 2009. The final SPP has been developed following the consultation period on the draft SPP. The SPP applies throughout the State of Queensland and seeks to ensure that local planning instruments protect the health, wellbeing, amenity and safety of commu
State Planning Policy for Healthy Waters In August 2009, the Government released the draft State Planning Policy for Healthy Waters (the SPP) for public consultation. The SPP is made under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 and applies throughout the State of Queensland to new development for urban purposes. The SPP will influence those land use planning and development decisions that may individually or collectively affect water quali
Reforming the Environ Protect Act - Reducing Greentape for Business The Queensland Government’s Smart Regulatory Reform Agenda aims to reduce the compliance burden to business and the administrative burden to government by $150 million each year by the end of 2013. The Department of Environment and Resource Management’s regulatory simplification plan includes the two year Reducing Greentape for Business project (Greentape Reduction project), announced in 2010 as p
Response Indigenous Economic Development and Review of Wild Rivers Bill On 3 November 2010 the Honourable Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous asked the Parliament of Australia’s House of Representatives Economics Committee to inquire into and report on Indigenous economic development in Queensland including the issues surrounding the Queensland Government’s Wild Rivers Act 2005. The Terms of Reference for Committee cons
Queensland Coastal Plan A review of the State Coastal Management Plan (2001) (SCMP) was completed in May 2009 in accordance with the requirements of the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995 (Coastal Act). The review of the 2001 plan and associated legislative framework for coastal protection and management found that significant revision of the SCMP was required. The findings of the review are summarised in the Rep
Carbon Farming Initiative There are strong long-term economic opportunities for Queensland’s rural landholders selling carbon credits from land-based actions that reduce or sequester carbon (land sector abatement). In August 2010, the Commonwealth Government committed to introduce the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) to provide a framework for the creation of tradeable credits for land sector abatement. In November 2010, th
Qld Govt Energy and Carbon Reporting Framework The ClimateQ strategy is the most comprehensive climate change response of any state or territory, and builds on the early work delivered under the ClimateSmart 2050 and Climate Smart Adaptation Plan 2007-12, an Australian first on adaptation policy. The proposed approach for Queensland Government departments to report energy use and carbon emissions will extend the Queensland Government’s commitm
North Stradbroke Island Sustainability Bill 2011 In June 2010, the Premier and Minister for the Arts released the Government’s vision for a sustainable North Stradbroke Island. The vision includes the phasing out of mining and dedication of up to 80 percent of the island as protected area, to be jointly managed with the Traditional Owners of the region, by 2027. Over half of the island is to be protected area by the end of 2011. The Premier and
Release of the State of the Environment Queensland 2011 Report The State of the Environment Queensland 2011 report has been prepared as a requirement of the Queensland Government under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995. The 2011 Report highlights the progress on actions developed in response to issues identified in previous reports (1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007), as well as a range of new initiatives that h
Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 The Greentape Reduction project commenced in 2010 with the aim to reform the licensing application and assessment process under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 to reduce costs for industry and government, uphold environmental standards for the community, and overall improve service delivery outcomes. The project rebuilds the approval processes for environmental licensing under the Environme
Nature Conservation Amend and Repeal Regulation No1 2013 The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has reviewed the governing legislation for marine mammals in Queensland – the Nature Conservation (Whales and Dolphins) Conservation Plan 1997 and the Nature Conservation (Dugong) Conservation Plan 1999. As a result of the review, the department has prepared new marine mammal legislation for Queensland, now consolidated within the Nature Conser
Nature Conservation Amendment Bill 2013 The Queensland Government is committed to improving access to national parks and other public lands, while ensuring that the protected area estate is managed in a manner appropriate to the values that it contains. The Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No.2) 2013 is the result of the second stage of the review of the Nature Conservation Act 1992, aimed at delivering on key
Environmental Protection and Other Leg Amendment Regulation No1 2013 The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2013 (the Amendment Regulation) amends the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008, to give effect to the provisions of the Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (the Greentape Reduction Act), passed by Parliament on 31 July 2012. The Amendment Regulation includes pr
Response Land Protection Legislation Flying fox Control Bill 2012 The Member for Dalrymple, Mr Shane Knuth MP, introduced the Land Protection Legislation (Flying-fox Control) Amendment Bill 2012 as a Private Member’s Bill on 21 June 2012. The Bill amends the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 and the Nature Conservation Act 1992 to control the health risks posed by flying-foxes. The policy intent of these amendments is to empower a landow
Reef Water Plan The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan), first established in 2003, seeks to ensure runoff of from broadscale agriculture has no detrimental impact on the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef by 2020. Reef Plan 2013 has been developed in close consultation with industry, regional natural resource management organisations, water quality scientists and conservations groups to
Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 The Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 amends the Water Act 2000 to implement recommendations relating to levees from the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report. The Bill provides the legislative framework for a consistent approach to regulate the construction of new levees and modification of existing levees. The Bill also amends a number of Acts within the natu
Nature Conservation Protected Plants Amendment Bill 2013 The Nature Conservation (Protected Plants) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 amends the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Vegetation Management Act 1999. The Bill includes provisions to enable a reduction in unnecessary administrative and regulatory burden associated with the protected plants legislative framework and to streamline assessment processes whilst maintaining protection of t
Contaminated Land Technical Services Regulatory Impact Statement A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared to assess the costs and benefits of options for the provision of technical expertise in contaminated land matters to inform regulatory decision making under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The RIS includes the option to require the certification of contaminated land reports by an approved auditor prior to submission to the
Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 The Bill amends the Biological Control Act 1987, the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, the Environmental Offsets Act 2014, the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993. The Bill amends the Environmental Protection Act to require auditor certificati
Nature Conservation Amendment and Repeal Regulation The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection has reviewed the protected plants legislative framework in Queensland. As a result of the review, the department has prepared new legislation governing protected plants in Queensland, with provisions primarily consolidated within the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006, rather than being spread across multiple legislative
Greenhouse gas emissions reduction target In February 2015, the Australian Government invited states and territories to input to its Taskforce on Australia’s post-2020 emissions reduction target. Australia’s commitment is to announce a post-2020 emissions reduction target as part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) by mid-2015. The Queensland Government position to the Australian Government post-2020 greenhouse gas
Great Barrier Reef election commitment The Great Barrier Reef is important to all Queenslanders and is the ongoing focus of significant domestic and international attention. The Queensland Government has demonstrated its commitment to reef protection and management by identifying it as a specific portfolio responsibility for the first time ever. The Queensland Government has made a number of important election commitments related to th
Appointment Wet Tropics Management Authority The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area is managed under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (the Queensland Act) and the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994. These Acts implement Australia’s international duty for the protection, conservation, presentation, rehabilitation and transmission to future generations of the World He
December 2015 Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum The Queensland Government is working collaboratively with the Australian Government to progress protecting the Great Barrier Reef. This has included coming together at the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum to discuss key issues such as the implementation of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050 Plan) that was jointly released by both governments in March 2015. The Queensland G
State Development and Public Works Organisation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 The State Development and Public Works Organisation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 (the Bill) implements the government’s election commitment to restore community objection rights removed by the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014 under the former government. The Bill repeals section 47D of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act).
Abbot Point Growth Gateway Project Expansion of the Port of Abbot Point is critical to unlock the ‘greenfield’ Galilee Basin, which covers an area of approximately 247,000 square kilometres and contains a very large inferred resource of mostly volatile, low-sulphur thermal coal. The opening up of the Galilee Basin has the potential to create significant long-term benefits for Queensland, with job creation in mining, construction an
Wildlife Species Reclassification The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is proposing to amend the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 to reclassify the conservation status of various wildlife (plant and animal) species, in accordance with recommendations made by the Species Technical Committee (STC). The STC, a panel of government and non-government scientific experts, assesses the conservation status of
Appointments to Wet Tropics Management Authority The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area is managed under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (the Queensland Act) and the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994. These Acts implement Australia’s international duty for the protection, conservation, presentation, rehabilitation and transmission to future generations of the World He
North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015 The Bill amends a number of pieces of legislation, primarily the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Act 2011 (NSIPS Act), to reinstate the substantive phase out of sand mining on North Stradbroke Island by 2019 and protect the natural environment. The NSIPS Act regulates mining activity at the three remaining mines on the island - Enterprise, Yarraman and Vance. The original le
Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 The Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 (the Bill) has been prepared for the protected area estate. These amendments: reinstate ‘the conservation of nature’ as the sole object of the Nature Conservation Act 1992; remove redundant provisions from the Nature Conservation Act 1992 that allowed the chief executive to grant stock grazing permits for emergency drought relief on
Response to the 2015 South East Queensland Koala Modelling Study The State Government has introduced measures with the aim of protecting koala populations, mainly through the long term protection of koala habitats across South East Queensland (SEQ). Data collected from surveying and monitoring has been used to inform an independent report commissioned by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and prepared by Uniquest. This report has identified t
Response Agriculture and Environment Commmittee Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 On 17 March 2016, the Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade and Investment introduced the Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 into Parliament. The Bill was considered by the Agriculture and Environment Parliamentary Committee, which tabled its report on 30 June 2016. In its report, the committe
Queensland Crocodile Management and Code of Practice Review In 2013, Crocodile Management Plans (CMPs) in four North Queensland council areas were implemented. These programs focused on crocodile removal to a greater spatial extent than previously specified. However, these changes were not underpinned by science to indicate whether more intensive removal would achieve meaningful improvements in public safety, or whether the removals would pose threats to t
Reef Regulatory Package The Queensland Government is working to progress implementation of the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce (the Taskforce) recommendations to improve catchment water quality, which affects the health of the Great Barrier Reef. The Queensland Government accepted all of the Taskforce’s recommendations in principle in August 2016. This included ‘to implement staged regulations to reduce water
Government target for solar rooftops The Queensland Government has set a target for one million residential solar photovoltaics (PV) rooftops or 3000 megawatts of installed solar PV of all scales in Queensland by 2020. In 2015, the Government tasked the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) with conducting an inquiry into a fair price for small scale solar systems selling their power back into the electricity grid. The QPC was req
Government response to Inquiry into fire fighting foam contamination Fire-fighting foam containing the chemicals perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used in fire-fighting and fire-fighting training from the 1970s to the early-mid 2000s. Use of the foams has occurred at sites such as civil airports, military air bases, large fuel storage terminals and refineries, and ports. A plume of groundwater contaminated with PFOS and PFOA, a
Government response to contamination caused by perfluorinated aqueous fire-fighting foams Fire-fighting foam containing the chemicals perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used in fire-fighting and fire-fighting training from the 1970s to the early-mid 2000s. Use of the foams has occurred at various Australian sites including civil airports, military air bases, large fuel storage terminals and refineries, and ports. A plume of groundwater contaminated
Introduction of a Container Deposit Scheme and a plastic bag ban in Queensland In 2014/15, 8.4 million tonnes of waste from households, businesses and construction was reported as generated in Queensland. Around 44% of this waste was reported as recycled. This compares to a recycling rate of over 65% in New South Wales (NSW) and over 70% in Victoria. This means that Queenslanders are still disposing of the majority of waste to landfill. Beyond poor waste recovery performanc
Government response to recommendations of Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce The Government established an independent Taskforce to provide the best possible advice on working towards its ambitious water quality targets as set out in the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan (the Reef 2050 Plan) and recommend the priority actions for investing the new $90 million funding. The Taskforce was established in May 2015 and was chaired by the Queensland Chief Scientist, Dr Geof
Crocodile Management in Far North Queensland Estuarine crocodiles are a vulnerable species in Queensland, and are still recovering from extensive culling and harvesting during the 20th century. However, as crocodile populations have increased, some sectors of the community are concerned that they pose a greater risk to human safety, particularly around expanding urbanised areas in Far North Queensland. Traditionally, the State Government has
Environmental Protection (Chain of Responsibility) Amendment Bill 2016 When sites on which potentially environmentally damaging activities are conducted are subject to receivership, administration or liquidation, company financial structures can make it difficult to pursue financial accountability for, and require, clean-up, leaving substantial environmental legacies which need to be addressed by the State and ultimately funded by taxpayers. Amendments to the Environ
Developing a Queensland Climate Transition Strategy In December 2015, at the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, the international community signed up to a climate change agreement (Paris Agreement) that recognises the need for deep cuts in emissions. All countries committed to an ongoing plan to limit emissions. The Queensland Government has completed a business-as-usual emissions proje
Release of Queensland Climate Transition Discussion Paper In December 2015, at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, the international community signed up to a climate change agreement (the Paris Agreement) that recognises the need for deep cuts in emissions. All countries committed to an ongoing plan to limit emissions in line with a "well below" 2°C limit on warming and to pursue eff
Development of Protected Area Strategy for expansion and management of the protected area estate Protected areas form the cornerstone of Queensland’s nature conservation programs currently cover 7.8% of the state. The protected areas include privately owned and managed protected areas (nature refuges) and state owned managed and jointly managed protected areas (national parks, conservation parks and resources reserves). These areas are managed for nature or heritage conservation purposes and
Queensland Climate Adaptation Directions Statement Climate change impacts, including increased average temperatures, more intense rainfall events, flooding, sea level rise, more severe cyclones and reduced rainfall and increased evaporation across much of the state pose risks to Queensland’s economy, environment, infrastructure and communities. In May 2016 the release of the Advancing Climate Action in Queensland: Making a transition to a low car
Environment Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 The Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill will amend the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) and the Water Act 2000 to ensure that the environmental impacts of groundwater take are better managed and that deficiencies in the make good arrangements for groundwater take are addressed. The Bill amends the environmental authority process u
Lower Burdekin Catchment Development project In April 2016, the final contractors’ Part 7 Synthesis report on the Lower Burdekin Catchment Development (LBCD) project was presented to the Queensland Government. The LBCD project involved the following components: an assessment of the current and potential demand for new water and the operation of the water market; identification of how much surface and groundwater is available; an assessment
Release of the Queensland State of the Environment Report 2105 The sixth Queensland State of the Environment report, for the period 2012-2015, has been prepared as a website (SoE 2015) and companion In Brief summary report. SoE 2015 is Australia’s first web-based state of the environment report drawing on data harvested from a range of thematic sources and published through the Queensland Government data portal. This innovative approach to visually represent
QANTAS Firefighting Foam Release Brisbane Airport QANTAS reported that on Monday 10 April 2017 at around 9pm, 22,000 litres of firefighting foam were released from a failed deluge system within an airport hangar at Brisbane Airport. Between 66% and 75% of the released foam was captured within the concrete bunded system within the hangar. However, the remainder of the released foam escaped and entered the drain system that feeds to several airport
Public Release of the Draft Master Plan for priority Port of Gladstone The Sustainable Ports Development Act 2015 (the Ports Act) commenced on 20 November 2015, providing a legislative framework for implementing the Queensland Government’s port-related commitments and actions of the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan (Reef 2050), including mandating master planning for Queensland’s priority ports. A draft master plan for the priority Port of Gladstone has been
Lapsed Legislation for Re-Introduction into Legislative Assembly When the election was called on 29 October 2017, the Parliament was dissolved by proclamation of the Governor. The dissolution has significant effects on the Parliament as follows: All business on the Notice Paper including Government Bills, Private Members Bills and Questions On Notice lapse; All notices of motions remaining on the Notice Paper such as revocation motions lapse, except for disall
Enhancing Reef Protection Regulation - Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement The Reef 2050 Plan commits the Queensland and Australian Governments to achieving at least a 50 per cent reduction in nitrogen in priority areas by 2018, up to an 80 per cent reduction in nitrogen runoff by 2025, and at least a 20 per cent sediment reduction in priority areas by 2018, up to a 50 per cent reduction in sediment runoff from key reef catchments by 2025. In its 2016 report, the Great
Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill 2017 The Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill 2017 (the Bill) seeks to implement the legislative framework for a container refund scheme (CRS) and a lightweight plastic shopping bag ban, and to make provision for streamlining and improving the End of Waste Code framework. This will provide Queensland with the opportunity to increase the rate of recycling and to reduce litter. The CRS provisions
Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 The Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 seeks to introduce a new class of privately managed protected area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, a special wildlife reserve, which is protected from incompatible land uses, and also seeks to streamline administrative processes for private protected areas. This will provide a secure investment e
Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 The government is committed to introducing legislation to further protect remnant and high conservation value regrowth vegetation; updating and improving the mapping of protected vegetation; amending accepted development vegetation clearing codes based on Queensland Herbarium advice; and aligning the definition of High Conservation Value with high-value regrowth vegetation. Legislative amendments
Queensland Government response to the final Koala Expert Panel Report In July 2016, the Queensland Government appointed the Koala Expert Panel to provide recommendations to Government on the most appropriate and realistic actions to address the decline in koala population densities in South East Queensland. The Panel has presented its final report, including recommendations, to Government. The Queensland Government response to the Koala Expert Panel’s final report a
Our Future State - Advancing Queensland Priorities Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities was developed to build on the Government’s commitments and to harness a whole-of-Government effort to deliver for Queensland. There are six outcome priorities for the Queensland community: Create jobs in a strong economy Give all our children a great start Keep Queenslanders healthy Keep communities safe Protect the Great Barrier Reef Be a res
Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement - Reviewing the management of protected wildlife in Queensland The conservation and management of protected plants and animals – collectively termed ‘protected wildlife’ – in Queensland is regulated under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act) and subordinate legislation – the Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulation 2017, the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006 and the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 (the Nature
Implementing a Queensland Waste Disposal Levy On 20 March 2018, the Queensland Government announced it would develop a comprehensive waste and recycling strategy for Queensland underpinned by a waste disposal levy. The strategy is being developed following the investigation into the transport of waste into Queensland, led by Justice Peter Lyons QC, completed in 2017. A Directions Paper has been developed that outlines the directions for Queen
Implementation of Our Future State - Advancing Queensland’s Priorities In June 2018, the Queensland Government released Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities, which are the Queensland Government’s Statement of Objectives for the Community in accordance with the Financial Accountability Act 2009. There are six outcomes for the Queensland community: Create jobs in a strong economy Give all our children a great start Keep Queenslanders health Keep communit
Planning (Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2018 The Container Refund Scheme (CRS) is to commence on 1 November 2018. The objectives of the CRS are to increase the recycling of beverage containers, reduce the number of containers that are littered, and to provide opportunities for social enterprise and benefits for community organisations. The Planning (Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2018 amends the Planning Regulation 2017 to su
Great Sandy Marine Park Discussion Paper - Zoning Plan Opportunities The Great Sandy Marine Park is one of three marine parks managed by the Queensland Government. These areas are managed and receive formal protection under the Marine Parks Act 2004. Like all Queensland marine parks, the Great Sandy Marine Park was established to achieve a balance between the conservation of the marine environment and its use for a variety of recreational, commercial and other acti
Appointments to Board of Wet Tropics Management Authority The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area is managed under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (the Queensland Act) and the Commonwealth Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 (the Commonwealth Act). These Acts implement Australia’s international duty for the protection, conservation, presentation, rehabilitation and transmission t
Queensland Government ongoing approach to Per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination Fire-fighting foam containing the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used in fire-fighting and fire-fighting training from the 1970s to the early-mid 2000s. Use of the foams has occurred at various Australian sites including civil airports, military air bases, large fuel storage terminals and refineries and p
Waste Reduction and Recycling (Waste Levy) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 In March 2018, the Queensland Government committed to developing a recycling, resource recovery and waste management strategy, underpinned by a waste disposal levy (the levy) that did not directly impact Queensland households. The levy is intended to act as a price signal that encourages waste avoidance and resource recovery behaviour, and discourages disposal as the first option. Public consultat
Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is one of the Queensland Government’s priorities under Our Future State - Advancing Queensland’s Priorities. The Environmental Protection (Great Barrier Reef Protection Measures) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill) provides the framework to accelerate progress towards the water quality targets by regulating key agricultural and industrial activiti
Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulations - Container Refund Scheme and Waste ERA Framework On 7 September 2018, the Review of the Regulated Waste Classification and Waste- Related Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) Frameworks Decision Regulatory Impact Statement was published. The Environmental Protection (Waste ERA Framework) Amendment Regulation 2018 subject of the regulatory impact statement amends the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 to reform the environmentally releva
Discussion Paper - Review of Queenslands Environmental Offsets Framework In 2014, the Queensland Government introduced the Environmental Offsets Act 2014, Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 and the Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy (the Offsets Policy). The Offsets Policy included a commitment, prescribed in Chapter 4 (Review and Amendment), to evaluate and review the effectiveness of the Offsets Policy within five years of commencement. The Queensland Governm
Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy and Energy from Waste Policy In March 2018, the Queensland Government committed to developing a recycling, resource recovery and waste management strategy, underpinned by a waste disposal levy. The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy (the Strategy) has been informed by the review of the current Queensland Waste Avoidance and Resource Productivity Strategy (20142024) published in June 2018, the outcomes of public
Environmental Protection (Rehabilitation Reform) Amendment Regulation 2019 The Queensland Government is delivering improved rehabilitation and financial assurance outcomes in the resources sector through a broad package of reforms. In 2016-17, the Government undertook a review of the financial assurance framework for the resources sector (Queensland Treasury Corporation was commissioned to undertake modelling and support the review). The review recommended the developme
Future management of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Basin (Qld) The full Lake Eyre Basin extends to areas in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory and has outstanding social, cultural and environmental attributes, and economic opportunities. It is an area that has attracted national and international attention as a result of these attributes and opportunities. Kati Thanda is the Arabana First Nation’s name for Lake Eyre. ‘Kati
Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024 In May 2018, the Queensland Government released its response to the Koala Expert Panel’s (the Panel) report Queensland Koala Expert Panel: A new direction for the conservation of koalas in Queensland. The Panel’s report detailed six key recommendations and a number of supporting recommendations on the most appropriate and realistic actions to address the decline of koala populations in South East
Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 The primary objectives of the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (the Bill) are to: provide for the statutory appointment of a Rehabilitation Commissioner; clarify and improve residual risk requirements to better manage the risks to the State from former resource sites; and improve the operation of environmental protection legislation. The Bill provides for the s
Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 The conservation and management of protected plants and animals – collectively termed ‘protected wildlife’ – in Queensland is regulated under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NC Act) and subordinate legislation – the Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulation 2017, the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006 and the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006, collective
Environmental Protection (Transhipping Activities) Amendment Regulation 2020 The Environmental Protection (Transhipping Activities) Amendment Regulation 2020 (the Amendment Regulation) will give full legislative effect to the Queensland Government’s transhipping policy. The primary objectives of the Amendment Regulation are to clearly prescribe transhipping as an environmentally relevant activity (ERA) and require the refusal of environmental authority applications for tr
Wet Tropics (Review) Amendment Management Plan 2020 The Wet Tropics Management Plan 1998 (Management Plan) regulates activities inside the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area which have the potential to impact on the Area’s world heritage values and integrity. It is a key instrument in meeting Australia’s international obligations under the World Heritage Convention to protect and manage the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area.
South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 The Queensland Government released the Draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024 (draft Strategy) for public consultation in December 2019 to January 2020. The South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 (Strategy) builds on the draft Strategy for the Queensland Government to implement the Koala Expert Panel’s recommendations in full. This includes detailed
Appointments to Board of Directors of Wet Tropics Management Authority The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area is managed under the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993 (the Queensland Act) and the Commonwealth Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994 (the Commonwealth Act). These Acts implement Australia’s international duty for the protection, conservation, presentation, rehabilitation and transmission t
Queensland environmental offsets framework - Consultation and Response Report Environmental offsets are used in many countries and are a widely accepted way to compensate for impacts from economic growth and rapid urban expansion. The current Queensland environmental offsets framework consists of the Environmental Offsets Act 2014, Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 and Environmental Offsets Policy 2014. In 2017, the Queensland Government committed to undertaking a compr
Queensland’s Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030 Queensland’s protected areas cover over 14 million hectares. This is comprised of 69% public protected areas (such as national parks) and 31% private protected areas (such as nature refuges). These areas are managed for nature or heritage conservation purposes and receive formal protection under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. The Queensland Government has committed to securing and conserving re
Fisheries Legislation Amendment Regulation 2020 The commercial fishing industry was one of the first industries to be affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) due to the loss of key export markets in early 2020. As Australia responded to the pandemic and social restrictions were imposed, there was also a loss of domestic markets further affecting Queensland’s seafood industry. The commercial fishing sector continues to face significant econ
Environmental Protection (Ministerial Designations) Amendment Bill 2021 The Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) regulates activities that cause environmental harm, including environmental nuisance and prescribes when an activity that causes serious or material environmental harm, environmental nuisance or that contravenes a noise standard will be unlawful. The EP Act also provides for where certain types of environmental nuisance are excluded from being an offe
Review of the Great Sandy Marine Park Zoning Plan The Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP) is a multiple use marine protected area that provides for a variety of recreational, commercial and tourism activities in addition to its primary purpose of conserving the marine environment. It contains a diverse range of natural and cultural values such as mangrove communities, some of the world’s most southerly coastal fringing coral reefs, and species of inte
Conserving Nature – a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Queensland The Queensland Auditor General’s report ‘Conserving threatened species (Report 7: 2018- 19)’ included a recommendation to develop an “integrated and comprehensive conservation strategy for Queensland, to meet the requirements of the Nature Conservation Act 1992”. The report recommended the strategy be supported by plans for: investment and implementation; engagement and communication; and monitori
Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (the Bill) proposes amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 to ensure they remain fit for purpose as the main instruments of environmental and waste regulation. The proposed amendments: support industry and streamline administrative processes better protect the environ
Response to Independent review of Environmental Protection Act The Department of Environment and Science (DES) engaged retired Planning and Environment Court judge, Mr Richard Jones, and former Senior Crown Prosecutor Susan Hedge, to undertake an independent review into the adequacy of existing powers and penalties under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The review has established that, to a significant extent, the EP Act contains adequate power
Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024 The primary objective of the Clean Economy Jobs Bill 2024 (the Bill) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Queensland. This is principally achieved through legislating Queensland’s emissions reduction targets. Queensland’s emissions reduction targets are to: reduce emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 reduce emissions to 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035 achieve zero net e
EPA Powers and Penalities OLAB 2024 In May 2023, the Queensland Government released its response to a report from retired Judge Richard Jones and Barrister Susan Hedge’s 2022, Independent Review of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) Report: Independent review into the adequacy of existing powers and penalties. The Government noted support for all 18 recommendations except for Recommendation 12 which was supported in-princip
Marine Parks (Great Sandy) Zoning Plan 2024 The Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP) is a marine protected area that provides for a variety of recreational, commercial and tourism activities in addition to its primary purpose of conserving the marine environment. It contains a diverse range of natural and cultural values. These include extensive seagrass meadows and mangrove communities, some of the world’s most southerly coastal fringing coral r
Final Progress Report on commitments to UNESCO The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been subject to consideration at successive World Heritage Committee meetings since 2012. At the 2021 World Heritage Committee meeting, it was recommended that the Reef be listed ‘in danger’, but the Committee did not agree and requested a Reactive Monitoring Mission. The Mission visited the Reef in March 2022 and published its ‘Report on the Joint Wo