Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy Version 1.10
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Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy Page 1 of 68 • EPP/2021/1658 • Version 1.10 • Last Reviewed: 03/03/2021 Department of Environment and Science Page 1 of 68 • EPP/2021/1658 • Version 1.10 • Last Reviewed: 03/03/2021 Department of Environment and Science Prepared by: Conservation Policy and Planning, Department of Environment and Science © State of Queensland, 2021. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer While this document has been prepared with care it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal, professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any external decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Department of Environment and Science should satisfy themselves independently and by consulting their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>. March 2021 Page 2 of 68 • EPP/2021/1658 • Version 1.10 • Last Reviewed: 03/03/2021 Department of Environment and Science Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Purpose, application and scope ................................................................................................... 6 1.1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.2 Application and scope ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.3 Relationship between Commonwealth, state, and local government offsets ......................................... 6 1.1.4 Self-administered offset code of compliance .......................................................................................... 7 1.2 Prescribed environmental matters ............................................................................................... 8 1.2.1 Specific criteria for matters of state environmental significance ............................................................. 8 1.3 Offset principles ........................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Offset requirements ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Supporting materials .................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Prescribed environmental matters (other than protected areas) ............................................ 10 2.1 Application of this chapter .......................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Context ...................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 What all offsets must achieve under Chapter 2 .................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Size and scale of the offset ................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Types of offsets ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.1 Proponent-driven offsets ....................................................................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Financial settlement offsets .................................................................................................................. 15 2.4 Delivery of offsets ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.1 Notification of offset delivery ................................................................................................................. 16 2.4.2 Agreed delivery arrangement ................................................................................................................ 16 2.4.3 Staged offset delivery............................................................................................................................ 17 2.4.4 Strategic Offset Investment Corridors ................................................................................................... 18 2.4.5 Advanced offsets ................................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2A Koala habitat in South East Queensland .......................................................................... 19 2A.1 Application of this chapter ...................................................................................................... 19 2A.2 Significant residual impact ...................................................................................................... 19 2A.3 Electing offset delivery ............................................................................................................ 19 2A.4 Specific requirements for koala habitat offsets in SEQ ........................................................... 20 2A.5 Financial settlement offsets .................................................................................................... 20 2A.6 Offsets and habitat restoration for koala habitat in SEQ ......................................................... 21 Chapter 3 Protected areas ................................................................................................................ 22 3.1 Application of this chapter .......................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Impacts to be offset ................................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Determining offset liability .......................................................................................................... 23 3.4 Offset delivery............................................................................................................................ 23 Chapter 4 Review and amendment .................................................................................................. 24 4.1 Evaluation and review ................................................................................................................ 24 4.2 Policy amendment ..................................................................................................................... 24 Appendix 1 Self-administered code of compliance .......................................................................... 25 Appendix 2 Bioregions of Queensland ............................................................................................. 26 Page 3 of 68 • EPP/2021/1658 • Version 1.10 • Last Reviewed: 03/03/2021 Department of Environment and Science Appendix 3 Defined distance ........................................................................................................... 27 Appendix 4 Financial Settlement Offset Calculation Methodology ................................................... 30 4.1 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 30 4.2 Terms specific to the Financial Settlement Offset Calculation Methodology ............................... 30 4.3 Calculation methodology ........................................................................................................... 31 4.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 31 4.3.2 Summary of calculation methodology ................................................................................................... 31 4.3.3 Section .................................................................................................................................................. 32 4.3.4 Distinct Matter Area............................................................................................................................... 32 4.3.5 Distinct Matter Area guiding principles.................................................................................................