Policies, regulations and reports
We consult with the community to develop environmental protection policies to help manage and protect the environment.
These policies are developed to cover specific topics, such as:
Environmental licences and permits
We issue licences and permits to regulate activities that can harm the environment—there are 3 main types.
The first are those that require a development approval under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009. These include:
- engaging in a environmentally relevant activity (ERA). An ERA is an activity that has the potential to cause harm to the environment (such as mining or disposing of waste). Agricultural activities conducted at places such as piggeries, prawn farms and cattle feedlots are also ERAs.
- conducting tidal works or development in a coastal management district
- developing where contaminated land is involved or land where a notifiable activity (an activity that has the potential to cause ground contamination) has occurred or will occur
- engaging in certain agricultural or animal husbandry activities in a wild river area altering a heritage place
- conducting high impact earthworks in a Great Barrier Reef wetland protection area.
An ERA is a resource activity with the potential to release contaminants into the environment, including:
- chemical manufacturing
- waste treatment
- coal mining
- mineral mining or extraction
- exploring for, extracting and processing petroleum and gas.
Last are those that are administered under other legislation, including:
- authorities for collecting native biological resources from state land or waters for biodiscovery purposes
- licences for controlling native wildlife
- licences for the commercial use of protected native plants.
More information for people who are applying for, or have an environmental licence.
Reports
Before a major project is approved a report is prepared that reviews the effect the activity will have on the environment. These reports are called Environmental impact studies.
