Environmental licences and permits
About environmental licences and permits
The department provides information about how to obtain environmental licences and permits. This includes application forms, information sheets and guidelines relevant to a range of activities.
When planning a project or activity that could impact upon the environment, it is important to first determine what kinds of approvals are required. The department makes decisions about activities which pose significant environmental risks and may require multiple licences or permits.
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our free consultation service before lodging your development application. This will ensure the correct information has been provided and the application can proceed without delays.
To request advice
- Email: palm@derm.qld.gov.au
- Phone: 13QGOV (13 74 68) or download the form Application for a pre-design/pre-lodgement meeting - EM1125 (Word, 285K)‡
Types of licences and permits
The department issues two main types of licences and permits. The first type is those that are triggered under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and include:
- clearing native vegetation
- engaging in an environmentally relevant activity (non-mining)
- conducting tidal works or development in a coastal management district
- conducting development in a koala assessable development area
- development on land in, or near, wetlands
- development involving contaminated land or land where a notifiable activity has or is to occur
- conducting development involving disturbance of acid sulfate soils
- engaging in certain agricultural or animal husbandry activities in a wild river area
- development on land in, or near, a conservation estate
- altering a heritage place
- development on land adjacent to, or including, a Queensland heritage place
- conducting high impact earthworks in a Great Barrier Reef wetland protection area
- undertaking works that involve taking or interfering with water
- undertaking works for a watercourse pump
- undertaking works for water storage
- undertaking works that involve gravity diversion from a watercourse
- undertaking works for a referable dam
- undertaking works for a watercourse diversion
- removal of quarry material from a watercourse or lake
- undertaking works that involve taking overland flow water
- undertaking works that involve interfering with overland flow water;
- interfering with water in drainage and embankment areas or wild river floodplain management areas
- undertaking other works in a watercourse
- development on land that is considered to be strategic cropping land.
The second type is those which are triggered under other legislation and include:
- collection authorities for collecting native biological resources from State Lands or Queensland waters for biodiscovery purposes
- environmental authorities for mining
- environmental authorities for greenhouse gas storage or petroleum activities
- permits for activities such as recreational and commercial tours, scientific or educational research and group activities which can include orienteering, climbing and traversing within a State managed park or forest
- licences for taking, keeping, using or moving native wildlife for commercial, recreational or other purposes
- licences for the commercial harvesting, trade or use of protected native plants.
‡ Requires Microsoft Office files viewer
Last updated 20 April 2012