Land required for the protected area estate
Throughout history, Queensland’s protected area estate has evolved by setting aside Crown land and acquiring land that has been identified as having significant conservation values worth being retained as national parks for the greater community benefit. Previously where leasehold land was involved, leases were not renewed and leaseholders’ only statutory rights to consideration were for compensation for improvements to the land.
The Delbessie Agreement gives greater business certainty to rural leaseholders by detailing when and how the government will identify and acquire such land. Under the Agreement, if land is identified as having values worthy of protection as a future national park:
- the leaseholder can negotiate the upfront sale with the Environmental Protection Agency based on market value of the land and improvements. That is, they can be paid out for the full consideration of a new lease term prior to renewal; or
- the leaseholder may elect to retain the lease and benefit from using the land for a further full term of 30, 40, or 50 years under a future conservation area arrangement. In this situation, when the renewed lease expires, the government will not issue a further lease over that part of the land reserved as a future conservation area, and will pay compensation at the market value of the lawful improvements on the day of expiry.
If a renewed lease includes a future conservation area, the leaseholder must ensure that:
- the area is maintained predominantly in its natural condition
- any agricultural or pastoral use of the natural resources of the area is ecologically sustainable
- any significant cultural and natural resources are protected.
Longer lease terms and lease extensions are available to leaseholders who enter into access agreements with Indigenous people and for those who enter into conservation agreements to protect significant environmental values on the lease land.
- Fact sheet: Delbessie Agreement—Land required for a protected area estate (PDF, 119K)*
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 20 May 2009