Assessment processes

Targets

Actions

Action 2.1

Take actions to implement the outcomes of the review of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as applicable to Queensland including progressing towards a ‘single touch’ approval process.

Status: In progress

• The Nature Positive Plan: better for the environment, better for business delivers on the government’s commitment to strengthen and streamline Australia’s environmental laws in response to the Independent Review of the EPBC Act, undertaken by Professor Graeme Samuel AC.
• We will work with the Australian Government to implement reforms applicable to Queensland.
• We are also committed to working with the Australian Government as part of the Digital Environmental Assessment Program (also refer to Action 5.6)

Action 2.2

Collaborate with the Department of Resources and the Office of the Coordinator-General to improve guidance for the resources industry about assessment processes, including customer journey maps and additional training and guidance materials. Consider extending this work to non-resources sector.

(Links to Key Focus Area 6: Improve regulatory efficiency (Action 36), of the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan)

Status: In progress

• Work is continuing to implement the products and processes developed as part of the Guidance for the Resource Industry Project (GRIP) that are managed by the department with a focus on the pre-lodgement process.
• A year long trial of phased pre-lodgement with the resource sector commenced in June 2023. Following completion of the trial, the effectiveness of the phased pre-lodgement approach will be evaluated.
• Key guidance and document updates are complete with ongoing improvements to documents being transitioned to business as usual.
• Information about the application process for resource authorities is available on Business Queensland including a resource application process flowchart. The flowchart reflects the high-level approval pathways for proposed resource projects through the Queensland legislative framework. It identifies what processes need to be done in a particular order and what processes can occur in parallel.
• The learnings and improvements for the resources industry from GRIP will be considered for their potential application to all environmentally relevant activities at a later stage.

Action 2.3

Review and improve the department’s pre-lodgement approach and encourage all applicants, other than those making standard applications, to have a pre-lodgement meeting prior to submitting an application.

(Links to Action 2.2)

Status: In progress

• The Guidance for Resource Industry Project (GRIP) is looking at improvements in the pre-lodgement approach for the resources industry.
• A year long trial of phased pre-lodgement with the resource sector commenced in June 2023. Following completion of the trial, the effectiveness of the phased pre-lodgement approach will be evaluated.
• The learnings and improvements to the pre-lodgement approach for the resources industry from GRIP will be considered for their potential application to all environmentally relevant activities.

Action 2.4

Develop and implement a process to ensure model and common conditions are contemporary and consistent.

Status: In progress

• We continue to undertake work to ensure our environmental authority conditions are contemporary and consistent.
• Copies of contemporary environmental authorities which identify the conditions that operators must comply with when undertaking environmentally relevant activities are available on the Public Register Portal.

Action 2.5

Identify opportunities for new environmentally relevant activity standards for low-risk activities.

Status: Complete

The 2023 Progress Report includes details about the delivery of this action.

Action 2.6

Support the resources industry to contribute to Queensland’s climate action targets through to decarbonisation of operations by:

• contributing to the development of a decarbonisation plan policy that:
  • results in substantial and consistent reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions
  • is outcomes-based, allowing companies to achieve least-cost abatement from across their portfolio of Queensland assets
  • includes transparent and regular reporting on progress
  • is adaptive, providing a basis for future actions to ensure new technologies, approaches and progress can be taken into account
• enables the energy system to plan Queensland’s renewable energy requirements.
• engaging with industry to establish a framework for decarbonisation plans to be developed and implemented
• taking account of changes proposed to Commonwealth Government settings such as the Safeguard Mechanism to ensure effectiveness and avoid undue burden
• building capacity and skills in the environmental regulator to assess decarbonisation plans and provide additional guidance to applicants (over a 5 year period).

(Links to Key Focus Area 2: Strengthen ESG credentials and protect the environment (Action 22) of the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan)

Status: In progress

• On 18 April 2024, the Queensland Government passed the Clean Economy Jobs Act 2024. This legislation aims to drive clean economy investment and jobs with a new emissions reduction target of 75% below 2005 levels by 2035, as well as enshrining in legislation the Queensland Government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
• We published a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Guideline in May 2024. The guideline clarifies existing application requirements under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) and provides information about how to meet these requirements in relation to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• The guideline also sets out the minimum expectations for GHG emissions information to be provided with applications for new environmental authorities (EAs) and applications to amend existing EAs. It also supports us in considering GHG emission information when making decisions on new or amended EAs under the EP Act.
• We will continue to explore options to support applicants in preparing GHG information for EA applications.

Action 2.7

Review the current processes around registered suitable operators to ensure that compliance history is better taken into account to avoid repeat offenders being able to hold environmental authorities. Consider greater consistency with fit and proper person test processes across other regulatory agencies.

Status: In progress

We have commenced a process to review the regulatory framework for registered suitable operators to identify short term and long term opportunities to strengthen the framework.

Action 2.8

Consider opportunities to revise environmental authority conditions for some existing authority holders (e.g where the environmental authority is older/higher risk) in targeted industries including composting, aquaculture and landfills to ensure contemporary best practice standards are applied.

Status: Ongoing

• We are continuing to deliver a project to modernise environmental authorities (EAs) for composting activities. This includes applying conditions to require enclosed composting facilities when receiving highly odorous feedstocks nearby to residential areas and setting standards for finished compost products, including PFAS levels to ensure safe products for the community.
• There are over 100 EAs for composting activities in Queensland. Over 20% of these EAs have been updated to reflect best practice or identified as not requiring modernisation. New EAs for composting that reflect best practice standards have also been issued.
• Copies of modernised composting EAs are available on the Public Register Portal.
• In May / June 2024 the government also consulted on proposed stronger regulations in relation to composting, to help support modernising EA conditions where it relates to odour.
• The Review of Nutrient Release from Aquaculture Activities Final Report has been published. The report includes 14 recommendations that cover release management; decision support tools and information; receiving environment assessment; stewardship; environmental approvals; and nutrient offsets. Each recommendation requires further scoping, prioritisation and resourcing.

Action 2.9

Educate operators about their application and environmental authority requirements under the Reef protection regulations for new or expanded activities.

Status: Complete

The 2023 Progress Report includes details about the delivery of this action.

Action 2.10

Review and assess the suitability of external guidance material to provide upfront expectations of information requirements to better support environmental impact statement and environmental authority applications and enable effective conditioning.

(Links to Action 2.2)

Status: Ongoing

• Key guidance and document updates that were identified as part of the Guidance for the Resource Industry Project (GRIP) are complete with ongoing improvements to documents being transitioned to business as usual (refer to Action 2.2).
• Significant updates to the Guideline Major and minor amendments were finalised in September 2023 to better clarify the requirements for amendment applications. The updates included the addition of several new flowcharts and a new appendix detailing application requirements.
• Public consultation has been undertaken on draft updates to the Landfill siting, design, operation and rehabilitation Guideline (Landfill guideline). The Landfill Guideline provides clarity around our expectations for waste disposal operations in Queensland.

Action 2.11

Develop the capability of our officers through regular internal and external knowledge sharing sessions to better understand the operational and technical aspects of regulated activities.

(Links to Action 5.11)

Status: Ongoing

• We have progressively been building the capability of our officers through a range of initiatives.
• We have developed, and are implementing, a specific training program for all our officers. The training program is designed to ensure all staff are trained in areas that are relevant to perform their role.
• Our 2023 Graduate Program delivered a tailored and extensive development program with graduate officers commencing in various assessment and compliance teams across the State.
• Building on the success of the 2023 program, the 2024 Graduate Program commenced in February 2024 with 10 officers commencing roles. The graduates will undertake a variety of learning and development opportunities that will set them up to achieve competency as an Environmental Officer.