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'Significant project' declaration
In deciding whether or not to declare an infrastructure project ‘significant’, the Coordinator-General considers numerous factors, including:
- project proponent’s initial advice statement
- complexity of local, state and federal government approval requirements
- potential environmental impacts
- potential impacts on existing infrastructure
- level of capital investment
- job opportunities
- project’s strategic significance to locality, region or state
- relevant local, state and federal government planning schemes and policies.
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. Water Act 2000 or Vegetation Management Act 1999).
The Coordinator-General may also independently declare a project ‘significant’ if he thinks it is justified.
Public notification
‘Significant project’ declarations are published in the Queensland Government Gazette.
Refusal of application
If the Coordinator-General refuses to declare a project ‘significant’, he must inform the applicant in writing, including a statement of reasons for the refusal.
Sunset provision
The declaration of a significant project requiring an EIS lapses two years after the release of the terms of reference for the EIS, if an acceptable EIS has not been submitted to the Coordinator-General.
