2020-01-16 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Draft SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024

       2. Habitat protection


       Comparison of habitat protection                        Subject to approval of the Commonwealth
       The above tables provide an overview of the             Environment Minister, this would have the effect
       difference between the previous planning controls       of ensuring that both national and state interests
       for clearing in koala habitat areas and the proposed    in koala protection can be accommodated through
       changes. The proposed changes to the development        a single regulatory regime to deliver improved
       assessment framework for koala habitat are to           environmental outcomes through a more strategic,
       apply to the SEQ defined boundary in ShapingSEQ         landscape-scale approach to impact assessment.
       Regional Plan. Intended changes will include the        The KEP recommended that the state’s
       identification of KPA, a new role for the state and a   commitment to a SEQ strategic assessment with
       new koala state code for assessment in the State        the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act should
       Development Assessment Provisions.                      be finalised as soon as possible. In response, the
                                                               Queensland Government is working to execute
       Strategic assessment for SEQ                            a SEQ strategic assessment agreement with
       A key implementation action for the ShapingSEQ          the Australian Government, to develop a more
       South East Queensland (SEQ) Regional Plan, is ‘to       coordinated and strategic approach to resolving
       investigate the delivery of a strategic assessment      environmental assessments and approvals.
       for SEQ’. A strategic assessment can enable upfront
       and streamlined assessment for impacts on matters       For more detailed information on these proposed
       that trigger the Commonwealth Environmental             koala conservation actions and goals, and how
       Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act),        they link to the KEP recommendations refer to
       including koalas. A strategic assessment process        Appendix 2.
       would ensure all relevant matters of national
       environmental significance have been properly
       addressed when developments proceed.
       A strategic assessment aims to establish a basis
       on which applications, which would have otherwise
       been referred to the Australian Government, may
       be appropriately dealt with by the Queensland
       Government.




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