Environmental management
Consultation Draft Policy For Biodiversity Offsets
The Environmental Protection Agency, on behalf of the Queensland Government, has developed a consultation draft policy on biodiversity offsets. A final policy will be prepared following consultation between December 2008 and March 2009, and consideration of written submissions from individuals and organisations.
The aim of a policy on biodiversity offsets is to provide a consistent and transparent approach to the use of environmental offsets for impacts on biodiversity. Offsets are one of a range of tools to address the impacts on biodiversity in Queensland.
In July 2008, the Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy (QGEOP) came into effect. The QGEOP provides a framework for the consistent use of environmental offsets in Queensland. It sets out principles and guidelines for offsets. The QGEOP was developed following public consultation. The QGEOP can be here.
The proposed Policy on Biodiversity Offsets will be a 'specific-issue offsets policy' under the framework of the QGEOP. It has been drafted to be consistent with the principles and guidelines of the QGEOP.
Focus Questions
The draft Policy includes the following information and we encourage your comments. Focus questions for discussion are suggested below.
The biodiversity values which would require offsets are outlined in Section 2 along with the activities that will trigger the policy. The policy will only apply to areas of impact greater than two hectares.
Focus Questions: Do you think that the appropriate biodiversity values are included?
Do you think the threshold size of two hectares is sufficient?
Details of the required offset packages which may include direct and indirect offsets are provided in Section 3.
Focus Questions: What do you think are the essential components of an offset package?
The offset rules table (Appendix 2) provides detail on the values impacted and the environmental outcomes sought. Also, the offset requirements including the values sought, location, characteristics and the required area of an offset based on a ratio of impact to offset are given.
Focus Question: Do you think the offset requirements are suitable?
Do you think the offset ratios are adequate to meet the environmental outcome?
During the consultation period further details on some of the implementation issues such as offset agreements and monitoring and evaluation will be developed.
If you have any contributions you would like to make on these topics please include them in your submission.
Please click on the links to find the full consultation draft Policy on Biodiversity Offsets and a short summary of the draft policy for biodiversity offsets.
The consultation draft policy on biodiversity offsets will be available for comment from December 2008 to mid March 2009. The EPA welcomes written submissions from individuals and organisations. The final date for providing written submissions is the 13 March 2009.
Please indicate if you wish your submission to be treated as confidential. Submissions not marked confidential may be linked to the web site.
The EPA is happy to provide further information on the consultation draft and to discuss any aspects of biodiversity offsets with individuals or organisations. Please contact us via the email address offsets@epa.qld.gov.au, or phone (07) 3227 7783.
Please send your written submission to:
Consultation Draft Policy on Biodiversity Offsets
Environmental Protection Agency
PO Box 15155
City East Qld 4002
Or email to offsets@epa.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 13 March 2009
