Planning and environment Archives - Page 4 of 7

Potential release of PFAS threatening biosecurity of industries on the Sunshine Coast

After heavy rainfall earlier this year, the Sunshine Coast Airport is considering building a pipeline to pump 125 million litres of PFAS-contaminated water from the airport into the ocean at Marcoola. Such a proposal is a timely reminder to the fishery and tourism industries of the potential dangers that these chemicals can pose to human and animal health and the environment and of the strict biosecurity protections of agricultural industries.

24 October 2019

Mining safety reforms to establish independent regulator

Dr Anthony Lynham, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy has introduced legislation to Parliament to establish an independent safety and health regulatory body funded by a levy on Queensland resources companies.

6 September 2019

Two senior members of Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers appointed to UDIA Policy Committees

The UDIA is the peak body for all urban development related issues in Queensland and aims to support the development industry in creating world class communities.

4 September 2019

Are you a receiver, administrator or liquidator? You could be liable for offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld)

The purpose of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) is to protect Queensland’s environment and prevent environmental harm. The duties and obligations imposed by the EP Act are significant, and liability for non-compliance attaches to a broad range of potential offenders.

20 August 2019

Public-Private Partnerships – the balancing act of risk and value for money

Issues raised in a recently filed class action by Opal Tower residents have highlighted risks for governments and statutory authorities with regards to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) developments.

5 August 2019

Better said: Obligations to report biosecurity risks

All Queenslanders have an obligation to manage biosecurity risks under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Act).

20 June 2019

Landholders beware – Court of Appeal confirms the fate of clearing Category X vegetation in Queensland

In a split judgment 2:1, the Court of Appeal has confirmed the Planning and Environment Court’s decision that a local government’s planning scheme can make clearing Category X vegetation assessable development. This is despite the Planning Regulation 2017 providing that clearing Category X vegetation is ‘exempt clearing work’.

17 May 2019

No agreement? No worries – landholders reimbursed for the cost of negotiating CCAs even when agreement is not reached

New reforms to the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014 have made it clear that Queensland landholders can be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred in preparing and negotiating a conduct and compensation agreement (CCA) regardless of whether an agreement is reached.

2 May 2019

Waste disposal levy to be introduced across Queensland

A new waste management and resource recovery strategy developed by the Queensland Government will be underpinned by a new waste levy commencing on 1 July 2019. A review of existing waste regulations in Queensland triggered the change to a risk-based approach to managing waste in the State. The Waste Reduction and Recycling (Waste Levy) Amendment Act 2019 (Amending Act) introducing the levy, received royal assent on 21 February 2019 and will amend the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.

18 March 2019

Building fires trigger new mandatory cladding checklist for Queensland building owners

In response to recent fires (in Australia and overseas) linked to combustible cladding materials, new laws will require Queensland building owners to complete a mandatory ‘combustible cladding checklist’.

14 August 2018

Queensland to increase additional foreign acquirer duty – are you prepared?

From 1 July 2018, the Queensland Government is set to increase its additional foreigner acquirer duty rate from 3% to 7%. The rate increase was announced in the mid-year fiscal economic review as part of the response to the 2017/18 budget.

28 May 2018

Questionable outcomes following recent vegetation clearing decision

The Planning and Environment Court’s determination in Fairmont Group Pty Ltd v Moreton Bay Regional [2018] QPEC 20, which held that ‘exempt clearing work’ can be made assessable under a planning scheme, is having wide-ranging impacts on all industries including resources, agriculture and development.

23 May 2018

Topics: Planning and environment