Petroleum
On 1 January 2005 a new legislative framework for the regulation of the upstream petroleum and pipeline industries took effect. The Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (P&G Act) combines the previous regulatory mechanisms of the Petroleum Act 1923 and the Gas Act 1965 into a single piece of legislation. The Petroleum Act 1923 was retained to regulate petroleum tenures granted prior to 1993 because of native title implications.
The introduction of the P&G Act required significant changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) which were implemented by the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2004 (EPOLA 2004). Chapter 4A of the amended EP Act provides for the issuing and related dealings of environmental authorities for petroleum activities conducted on petroleum authorities.
With the introduction of the new petroleum legislation, it is expected that the majority of petroleum activities will be regulated by codes of environmental compliance. Adoption of these codes is expected to streamline approval processes and provide certainty and consistency in relation to the administration of environmental regulation of the upstream petroleum and pipeline industries.
Under the new legislative framework, the department is responsible for:
- administration of environmental authorities;
- monitoring environmental performance of petroleum projects;
- conducting site inspections and environmental audits;
- managing environmental impact assessments;
- ensuring adequate rehabilitation; and
- enforcing compliance with environmental controls.
The Department of Mines and Energy is responsible for:
- accepting and processing all petroleum authority applications and referring the relevant applications for environmental authorities to the department for assessment;
- issuing petroleum authorities under the P&G Act;
- administration of petroleum tenures granted under the Petroleum Act 1923;
- issuing licences, permits, pipeline licences, primary licences, secondary licences or special prospecting authorities under the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982; and
- promoting and facilitating industry commitment to environmental best practice.
The Department of Natural Resources and Water declared several wild rivers under the Wild Rivers Act 2005 to preserve the natural values. For more information and guidance regarding legislative requirements under the Wild Rivers Act 2005 for applications made within declared wild river areas, please look at Activities in Wild River Areas.
Pre-design conference service
Applicants are advised to enter into pre-design discussions with the department before lodging a formal application through the mining registrar to clarify information requirements and the process for obtaining the approvals required.
For ERAs administered by the department a 'pre-design conference' service is offered for projects which may include issues requiring a high level of assessment. This service includes meeting with a departmental project manager to discuss all the information requirements to be provided with your application.
For more details, read the Pre-design conference fact sheet.
This service can be initiated by contacting the Ecoaccess Customer Service Unit on 1300 368 326 or by email at eco.access@epa.qld.gov.au or completing a Pre-design conference application form. If a pre-design conference is required to discuss your application in more detail, a departmental officer will contact you directly.
Links to key information materials on petroleum are listed on the screen for quick referencing. You can also read the legislation online by visiting the Office of Parliamentary Counsel website.
By selecting from the menu categories on the screen you will be directed to application forms, information sheets and guidelines relevant to a range of activities that require an environmental authority or permit.
Last updated: 18 February 2008