Nature Conservation and Other Legislation (Koala Protection) Amendment Regulation 2020
The Nature Conservation and Other Legislation (Koala Protection) Amendment Regulation 2020 commenced on 7 February 2020 and amended the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014, Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017, Planning Regulation 2017 and Vegetation Management Regulation 2012 to deliver better conservation outcomes for koalas in South East Queensland.
This new planning framework will deliver a more strategic and consistent approach to koala conservation across local government boundaries, supporting delivery of a key initiative outlined in the draft South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019 – 2024, and providing certainty to landholders and industry.
Changes to the planning framework include the introduction of Koala Priority Areas, which are large, connected areas that include koala habitat as well as areas that are suitable for habitat restoration. Under the planning changes, the clearing of koala habitat areas within Koala Priority Areas is prohibited.
For proposed developments that do not involve clearing of koala habitat but are within Koala Priority Areas, the Queensland Government has introduced new assessment benchmarks that consider koala conservation within project proposals.
Outside of Koala Priority Areas, the State Government assumes responsibility for assessing developments that propose the clearing of koala habitat areas against a new State assessment code.
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