Qld in nation-first plan to advance development sustainably while protecting key habitats

A new “traffic light” approval system will be established in Queensland in a bid to cut bureaucratic red tape for developers.

A new “traffic light” environmental approval system will be established in Queensland in a bid to cut bureaucratic red tape for developers while protecting nature, with the state becoming the first jurisdiction to sign up to the national scheme.

The “bioregional” plans will outline what areas are no-go zones, what areas need to be restored and where development can sustainably happen — speeding up decisions by providing clear guidance on what is appropriate and where.

Queensland is the first jurisdiction to sign up to the scheme, borne out of a landmark overhaul of Australia’s environmental laws.

Federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek, in Brisbane on Thursday, announced the government’s formal response to a review of Australia’s 23-year-old environment laws conducted by former ACCC boss Graeme Samuel — which was finalised in 2020.

Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

It will include establishing a national environmental protection agency (EPA), which will sit independently and act as a “tough cop on the beat” to ensure standards are being met.

“We want an economy that is nature positive. We will build our legislation on the three basic principles; clear national standards of environmental protection, improving and speeding up decisions and building trust and integrity,” Ms Plibersek said.

Part of the reform includes “regional plans” — what Queensland will refer to as “bioregional plans” to prevent confusion with existing initiatives — which will look at the cumulative impact of projects in a particular area rather than focusing on a singular developments.

It will be designed to “develop regional approaches to protection of threatened species” such as “by establishing wildlife corridors to link up existing areas of bush land”.

Environment minister Meaghan Scanlon said Queensland would focus the development of bioregional plans in three locations with a particular focus; urban development in the southeast, in a region with a focus on renewable energy and another that is focused on rare minerals.

It is expected the state and federal government will work with relevant stakeholders in the new year.

Ms Plibersek said the government’s response to the Samuel review was the first step in what is expected to be a “slow, methodical” and transparent consultation process.

Laws to make the reforms happen will be prepared in the first half of 2023 with the view of introducing the final package by the end of that year, with consultation including on draft legislation to be undertaken in-between.

The reform does not include a “climate trigger” — a mechanism which would require the federal minister to consider if a major development would make climate change worse.

Ms Plibersek said the government had legislated achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and it was conscious of not having “two separate systems” for assessing the carbon emissions of projects.

Environmental groups, while largely welcoming the long-awaited reform, called for greater urgency and commitments to properly resource the changes and the EPA.

Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O’Shanassy said there was a “great deal more detail” to be fleshed out.

“The test of success for these reforms will be whether they end Australia’s extinction crisis by protecting our unique wildlife, plants and ecosystems from destruction through land clearing, logging and climate change, and result in a net gain in natural habitat this decade,” she said.