Environmental management
We are committed to strong environmental management and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Any new developments need environmental impact assessments conducted, which:
- make sure developers take responsibility for protecting the environment that may be affected by their proposals
- looks at any environmental issues that my arise during the life of the proposals
- helps decision makers decide whether the proposal should proceed, and any environmental management and monitoring conditions that should apply
- take into account community and stakeholder views, where the law allows, when assessing the proposal and making a decision.
Have your say
We hold public consultations for decisions about environment and heritage management—all Queenslanders are encouraged to take part.
For more information, see:
- comment on current development proposals
- public notices
- current environmental authority applications.
Environmental incidents and disaster recovery
Australian landscapes and ecosystems have been shaped by adaptation and evolution through millennia of natural phenomena, including flood, drought, fire and cyclones.
Our environment is affected by a mix of complex human-caused threats (such as invasive species, land clearing, urbanisation and natural resource use), which have reduced the state’s natural resilience to large-scale natural events and man-made disasters.
This, coupled with the anticipated increased number of extreme events in future years, means that our environment and natural resources are more vulnerable to disaster.
The below table lists some of the potential environmental impacts from different types of disasters:
Type of disaster |
Associated environmental impact |
|---|---|
Cyclone/severe storm |
Loss of vegetation cover and wildlife habitat Short-term heavy rains and flooding inland Mud slides and soil erosion Saltwater intrusion to underground fresh water reservoirs Soil contamination from saline water Damage to offshore coral reefs and natural coastal defence mechanisms Waste (some of which may be hazardous) and debris accumulation Secondary impacts by temporarily displaced people Impacts associated with reconstruction and repair to damaged infrastructure (e.g. deforestation, quarrying, waste pollution) |
Flood |
Ground water pollution through sewage overflow Loss of crops, livestock and livelihood security Excessive siltation (may affect certain fish stocks) River bank damage from erosion Water and soil contamination fertilizers used Secondary impacts by temporarily displaced people Beneficial sedimentation in floodplains or close to river banks |
Drought |
Loss of surface vegetation Loss of biodiversity Forced human displacement Loss of livestock and other productive systems |
Bushfires |
Loss of forest and wildlife habitat Loss of biodiversity Loss of ecosystem services Loss of productive crops Soil erosion Secondary encroachment for settlement or agriculture |
Sourced from UNEP (2008) Environmental Needs Assessment in Post-Disaster Situations: A Practical Guide for Implementation.
Recovering from a disaster
Environmental recovery includes the restoration and regeneration of:
- biodiversity (species and plants) and ecosystems
- natural resources
- environmental infrastructure
- amenit or aesthetics (e.g. scenic lookouts)
- culturally significant sites and heritage structures.
It also includes the management of environmental health, waste, contamination and pollution, and hazardous materials.
Recovering the environment involves the coordinated process of supporting affected communities in:
- identifying and advising on environmental and cultural heritage impacts and risks. This may include air quality, water quality, soil and groundwater, landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife, heritage places and indigenous cultural heritage
- rehabilitating, conserving and supporting the natural recovery of impacted (or at risk) terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems, wildlife, landscapes and natural resources
- restoring and conserving impacted (or at risk) cultural heritage values and places
- supporting long-term community sustainability needs. This may include reinstating environmental protections and ecosystem services, and advancing ecologically sustainable development principles in built environment recovery, economic recovery and waste management
- ensuring environmental bodies, affected communities and interest groups are involved in the decision making process.
In recent times, 2 major cyclones have crossed our coast, causing significant destruction to the environment. Read more about their impacts and the recovery work:
