A letter to the Enviro Minister on Enviro Offsets

Hon Andrew Powell

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection

Dear Mr Powell,

I was reading an article on Biodiversity offsets, which prompted me to have a quick look at the EHP website for the Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy.

I noted that a lot of the content on the website is no longer available.

Many of the triggers in legislation appear to be under review or being amended including:

·         Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (PDF)*

·         Environmental Protection Act 1994 (PDF)*

·         Nature Conservation Act 1992 (PDF)*.

I wonder if you are able to provide any insights into what the Qld Government’s current and future policy on Environmental Offsetting will be?

Regards,

Rowan Barber


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In response, an EHP representative wrote:

Good afternoon Rowan.

Thank-you for email.  Apologies for the website – there is currently a review of the department’s web material, which has resulted in some documents being unavailable at this time.

CURRENT

At the moment the Queensland Government has five offset policies:

·         Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (administered by Department of Environment and Heritage Protection –offsets@ehp.qld.gov.au)

·         Queensland Biodiversity Offset Policy (administered by Department of Environment and Heritage Protection –offsets@ehp.qld.gov.au)

·         Offset for Net Gain of Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy (administered by Department of Environment and Heritage Protection - seqkoala@ehp.qld.gov.au)

·         Policy for Vegetation Management Offsets (administered by Department of Natural Resources and Mines –vmenquireis@dnrm.qld.gov.au)

·         Marine Fish Habitat Offset Policy (administered by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

General information about offsets and the policies can be found from the below link.

http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/management/environmental-offsets/environmental-offsets.html

FUTURE

In relation to the future of Queensland’s offset policies, the Queensland Government committed, through the Six Month Action Plan July to December 2012, to review the overarching framework for the Biodiversity Offsets Policy.  The review will create a single policy that incorporates requirements of all five existing Queensland Government offset policies.

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is leading this review.

The single policy will address all Queensland Government offset requirements and could be adopted as the foundation for local government offset policies if desired by councils.

The review seeks to reduce costs for government and industry; promote strategic biodiversity outcomes; and provide for shelf ready products that enable rapid approvals for projects.

This review is not linked to the review of assessment requirements or triggers under legislation.  These are being undertaken separately to development of this policy. 

However, where there is a State assessment requirement to avoid, mitigate and offset impacts – the single State Government Environmental Offset Policy will provide how this offset is to be achieved.

Until this review is completed, all current offset policies remain in effect.

Kind regards,

Jane