False

committee's Report

The committee's report on the Bill was tabled on 25 October 2016. The Queensland Government's response to the report was tabled on 9 November 2016. The Bill was passed with amendment on 09/11/2016

View: Report No. 25, 55th Parliament – Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016
View: Queensland Government's response to the report

About The Bill

On 13 September 2016, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef introduced the Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 to the Queensland Parliament.

In accordance with Standing Order 131, the Bill has been referred to the Agriculture and Environment Committee for consideration and reporting back to the Parliament by 25 October 2016 (Standing Order 136).

According to the Explanatory Notes, the policy objectives of the Bill are to:

• strengthen the effectiveness of the environmental assessment of underground water extraction by resource projects
• allow the ongoing scrutiny of the environmental impacts of underground water extraction during the operational phase of resource projects through clearer links between the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and Water Act 2000
• improve the make good framework in the Water Act 2000
• ensure that the administering authority for the Environmental Protection Act 1994 is the decision-maker for specific applications relating to environmental authorities
• ensure the impacts of mining projects that are advanced in their environmental and mining tenure approvals are appropriately assessed for their impact on the environment and underground water users, and that opportunities for public submissions and third party appeals are provided before underground water is taken in a regulated area for mine dewatering purposes, and
• update existing provisions in the Queensland Heritage Act 1992 to provide for the appointment, by local governments, of authorised persons to carry out compliance and enforcement activities for the local heritage provisions.

View: Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016
View: Explanatory Notes
View: Minister’s speech introducing the Bill into the Queensland Parliament

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions closed on 6 October 2016

Timeline

Public departmental briefing:  30 September 2016 (transcript)   
Public departmental briefing: 12 October 2016 (transcript)
Public hearing:                         12 October 2016 (transcript)
Report tabled:                          25 October 2016