Environmental Offsets
The Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (QGEOP) will help to preserve Queensland's environmental values for future generations. This policy ensures that economic and social development can occur without an overall degradation of our environment. The Queensland Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this policy after extensive research and consultation on the use of environmental offsets. The QGEOP will come into effect on 1 July 2008.
The policy establishes a framework for using environmental offsets in Queensland. Environmental impacts from development must first be avoided and if not avoidable then minimised. Environmental offsets may be used to counterbalance any remaining loss of environmental values. The policy will ensure that offsets are used consistently and transparently across the State, as a last line of environmental preservation response. It provides principles and guidelines for applying and developing more detailed ‘specific-issue’ offsets policies for important environmental values, such as native vegetation and fish habitat.
Queensland has been using offsets for a number of years, and has several specific-issue offsets policies that indicate where environmental offsets are needed, and what form they should take.
The specific-issue offsets policies, and their regulating agencies are:
- Vegetation Management - Policy for Vegetation Management Offsets, September 2007, Department of Natural Resources and Water
- Marine Fish Habitat - Mitigation and Compensation for Works or Activities Causing Marine Fish Habitat Loss, 2002, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
- Koala Habitat - Offsets for Net Benefit to Koalas and Koala Habitat, 2006, Environmental Protection Agency
Specific-issue policies are currently in development to address impacts on waste water quality and biodiversity.
For further information about the Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy, please email your questions to: offsets@epa.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 01 July 2008
