Queensland’s regional planning put under the microscope

Mining and gas developments in Queensland’s regional areas will be up for changes under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Planning and Infrastructure, Jeff Seeney, said that the Act will provide certainty for the agriculture and resource sectors, with landholders previously struggling to cope with unprecendented growth in the resource sector.

However, Seeney was quick to point out that development would not actually be prohibited under the Act, but would provide conditions that should be met.

“The laws will require a shift in thinking for resource companies and farmers but they are based on planning mechanisms that have been successfully used to resolve land use conflicts in urban settings for years,” he said.

“Resource companies can no longer proceed directly to the Land Court after 40 days should a landholder not agree to a proposed activity – equally a resources company may receive an exemption from the Regional Interest Development Application process simply by reaching a recognised legal agreement with a landholder.”

Regional plans across different areas have been set out, including the Cape York Regional Plan’s draft.

“These plans establish the over-arching principles that will apply to consideration of future development in a region and will reflect the vision and wishes of the local community,” he said.

Within each plan there are four areas of regional interest that will be recognised and protected, including priority living areas, priority agricultural areas, strategic environmental areas and strategic cropping areas.

For a developer to go ahead, the Act will require an agreement to be reached with the landholder of a Regional Interest Development Approval granted.