High-risk weather preparation

Damaging seasonal weather events can occur across Queensland, particularly between November and April. Operators are encouraged to monitor weather conditions and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) website closely for seasonal weather outlooks, important updates and weather warnings. As BoM’s weather updates can change considerably and weather forecasting of this nature can be challenging, it is important to regularly monitor updates from the BoM in order to prepare for any potential risks associated with extreme weather events.

From our experience in previous high-risk weather seasons, sites that are well prepared and have their high-risk weather season contingencies in place, tend to manage much better during significant weather events and are also less likely to attract an enforcement response from the department. To help you prepare and be ready to respond to high-risk weather events, please review the short recorded webinars below.

    Wet weather preparation

    The high-risk weather period can include cyclones and wet weather, with locally intensive rainfall possible anywhere across the state. Operators should prepare for wet conditions including, for example:

    • reviewing and updating site water management plans, site water balances/models and notification procedures
    • reviewing contingency plans and contractual arrangements for unexpected changes in demand for beneficial use of key waste streams (e.g. produced water from coal seam gas extraction)
    • reviewing and updating disaster management plans (e.g. for waste sites, reviewing plans for managing unexpected waste following a State-declared disaster)
    • ensuring adequate pumping capacity and emergency power supply
    • ensuring suitable erosion and sediment controls are in place and maintained
    • if you have regulated structures – ensuring adequate capacity in all water storages, particularly structures classified as ‘high’ or ‘significant’ consequence category in accordance with the Manual for Assessing Consequence Categories and Hydraulic Performance of Structures.
    Photo of a flooded site

    Flooded regulated site

    Photo credit: Source: DETSI image

    Dry weather preparation

    In the event of warm and dry weather which may lead to dusty conditions, it is important to ensure that sites are not impacting on environmental values, adjacent landholders or the local community by ensuring:

    • adequate water is on site for dust suppression
    • dust monitoring is in place ahead of time
    • procedures are in place for communicating with the local community about dusk risks.

    Statutory responsibilities

    Operators also have the following statutory responsibilities:

    • General Environmental Duty – in accordance with section 319 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act), a person must not carry out any activity that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental harm unless they take all reasonably practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm. It is an offence to fail to comply with the general environmental duty and this failure causes, or is likely to cause, serious or material environmental harm.
    • Duty to Restore the Environment – in accordance with section 319C of the EP Act, if a person causes or permits an incident that results in unlawful environmental harm through contamination of the environment, the person must, as soon as reasonably practicable, and as far as reasonably practicable, rehabilitate or restore the environment to its condition before the harm. An offence is committed when this duty is not complied with, and the associated harm is serious or material environmental harm.
    • Duty to Notify of Environmental Harm – pursuant to Chapter 7 Part 1 Division 2 of the EP Act, a person has a duty to notify the department of any event that threatens or causes material or serious environmental harm. The department can be notified on its 24 hour pollution hotline 1300 130 372.
    Photo of a compliance officer inspecting regulated site

    Compliance officer inspecting regulated site

    Photo credit: Source: DETSI image

    Short webinars to help operators prepare and respond to high risk weather events

    The department has developed a series of short recorded webinars to:

    • highlight the risks that could be experienced during high-risk weather periods
    • provide insight into what preparations industries and operators should take to prepare for, and mitigate, the impacts and risks from an extreme weather event.

    Operators are strongly encouraged to watch the recorded webinars to understand the department’s expectations of environmental authority holders.

    High-risk weather preparedness – what all operators should know

    • Introduction - High-risk weather preparedness overview
      • 03:28
      • Transcript available

      This webinar highlights the risks of seasonal and high-risk weather events and provides some examples of inadequate preparedness.

    • Seasonal preparedness overview
      • 03:56
      • Transcript available

      This webinar provides an overview of operators’ obligations to prepare for seasonal and high-risk weather events.

    • Water management
      • 03:02
      • Transcript available

      This webinar provides information about the water management preparedness actions that operators should take before wet weather and highlights the risks of inadequate water management preparedness.

    • Dust management
      • 01:23
      • Transcript available

      This webinar highlights the risks of dust and provides information about the actions that operators should take to prepare for, and mitigate, the impacts and risks of dust in the event of drier weather.

    • Bushfire risks
      • 00:39
      • Transcript available

      This webinar highlights the risks of bushfires and provides information about the actions that operators should take to prepare for bushfires.

    • Fires in stockpiles
      • 02:19
      • Transcript available

      This webinar highlights the risks of fires in stockpiles and provides information about the actions that operators should take to prepare for, and mitigate, the impacts and risks of fires in stockpiles.

    • Disaster preparedness response
      • 00:55
      • Transcript available

      This webinar highlights site operators’ responsibilities to prepare for, and respond, to disaster events. The video also explains the department’s role in responding to disaster events.

    Industry specific information

    • Resource industry – Regulated storage structures
      • 01:21
      • Transcript available

      This webinar is for operators undertaking resource activities that have regulated storage structures on site and provides information about the water management preparedness actions that operators should take for regulated storage structures before wet weather.

    • Waste industry – Waste levy
      • 02:08
      • Transcript available

      This webinar is for landfill operators and explains the waste levy obligations for disaster waste.

    Other information that may assist in responding to high-risk weather events

    • Temporary emissions licences
      • 02:12
      • Transcript available

      This webinar explains what a temporary emissions licence is, when a temporary emissions licence may be appropriate, and the process for applying for a temporary emissions licence.

    • Temporary authorities
      • 01:56
      • Transcript available

      This webinar explains what a temporary authority is, when a temporary authority may be appropriate, and the process for applying for a temporary authority.

    Photo of waste stockpile fire

    Waste stockpile on fire

    Photo credit: Source: DETSI image

    Guidance materials

    Several links are included below to application forms and guidance materials that may assist operators to prepare or respond to high-risk weather:

    Links to other information sources are also included below to assist operators to prepare or respond to high-risk weather: