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Significant projects
Proponents of an infrastructure project with one or more of the following characteristics may apply to have it declared a ‘significant project’ by the Coordinator-General:
- complex approval requirements, involving local, state and federal governments
- potential environmental impacts
- large capital investment
- substantial job opportunities
- strategically important to the locality, region or state.
The declaration is made under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act).
Two types of declaration
There are two types of ‘significant project’ declaration:
- requiring an environmental impact statement (EIS)
- not requiring an EIS - before declaring the project significant, the Coordinator-General must be satisfied the appropriate environmental impact assessments will be carried out under other legislation (e.g. Environmental Protection Act 1994 or Sustainable Planning Act 2009).
The Coordinator-General may also independently declare a project ‘significant’ if he thinks it is justified.
Purpose of declaration
A ‘significant project’ declaration does not imply government approval of, support for or commitment to the project in question.
Rather, it means the project requires a rigorous and comprehensive environmental impact assessment, involving whole-of-government coordination.
The declaration does not exempt the project proponent from the need to:
- obtain necessary development approvals
- comply with relevant planning and environment laws and planning instruments.
Current and completed EIS projects
Significant projects currently going through EIS process
Significant projects for which the EIS process is complete
Environmental assessment laws
The SDPWO Act is one of three pieces of legislation in Queensland under which the environmental impacts of development projects can be assessed. The other two are the:
- Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act)
- Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA).
Proponents of mining, petroleum and gas projects that are not 'significant projects' may be required to prepare an EIS under the EP Act, which is administered by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
Proponents of major projects that are not 'significant projects' but which include elements of mining or petroleum tenements may be required to prepare an EIS under the SPA.
This EIS process would be administered either by the relevant local government or the Department of Local Government and Planning.
Project proponents need to consider the three pieces of legislation before deciding whether one or more applies to their project.
