New Regulation for environmental protection
The Environmental Protection Regulation 2008, which replaces the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998, commenced on 1 January 2009.
Key changes
The new Regulation changes the way some environmental matters are managed in Queensland. However, it continues to provide for assessing and managing activities (such as industrial, commercial, mining, intensive animal and municipal operations) that cause point source pollution.
The new approach is based on evidence and the potential to cause environmental harm. The objective of the new Regulation is to protect Queensland's unique environment from point source pollution while allowing ecologically sustainable development, by ensuring:
- effective regulation of environmentally relevant activities
- effective regulation of environmental nuisance
- effective implementation of national agreements.
The key changes include:
- an updated list of environmentally relevant activities (ERAs) that will require regulation
- a new fee structure for ERAs based on environmental emissions
- broader responsibility for local government, who will now manage matters related to environmental nuisance (from both commercial and residential) and minor water pollution.
Public consultation
In February and March 2008, the former Environmental Protection Agency publicly consulted on the changes through a Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Public Benefit Test for the review of the Environmental Protection Regulation 1998. The agency took stakeholder submissions into account when developing the new Regulation.
- Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 (PDF)*
- Explanatory Notes for the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 (PDF)*
- Regulatory Impact Statement for the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 (PDF)*
The following documents from the public consultation are also available:
- The Final Public Benefit Test (PDF, 151K)*, which addresses the impacts of the proposed Environmental Protection Regulation 2008. The former Environmental Protection Agency publicly consulted with a wide variety of industries to assess the impact of the proposed options
- The Consultation Report on the Regulatory Impact Statement and Draft Public Benefit Test (PDF, 119K)* analyses submissions received during public consultation between 1 February and 28 March 2008 as part of the review.
Further information
Further information and other related documents include:
- Environmentally relevant activities—comparative table (PDF, 101K)*
- Ready reckoner—Environmental Protection Regulation (PDF, 113K)*
- Deleted environmentally relevant activities (PDF, 83K)*
- Summary of annual fees for ERAs (PDF, file unavailable)*
- Fees for permits for ERAs (PDF, file unavailable)*
- Paying a reduced annual fee (PDF, 130K)*
- Environmental emissions profile (PDF, 2.3M)*
- Contact details for environmental licensing - including Council areas (PDF, file unavailable)*
- Noise, odour, dust: making a complaint (PDF, 182K)*.
Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act
Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994, mainly to facilitate the new Regulation, but also to include requirements for clean-up and cost-recovery actions after contamination incidents, also commenced on 1 January 2009.
- Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No.2) 2008 (PDF)*
- Explanatory Notes for Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Act (No.2) 2008 (PDF)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 8 March 2011