Sourced from GasFields Commission Queensland
The GasFields Commission joined a group of Darling Downs landholders at a special briefing in Toowoomba this week to discuss the implementation of the State's new regional planning laws.
The meeting was hosted by Deputy Premier, Jeff Seeney and Agriculture Minister, John McVeigh with a group of about 30 landholders in attendance.
The Regional Planning Interests Act came into effect from June this year to provide a more balanced way forward for landholders, resource companies and regional communities to consider and assess projects on prime agricultural land.GasFields Commission Chairman, Mr Cotter said the briefing provided an excellent opportunity to hear a range of issues and questions raised from landholders about the implementation of these new laws in practice, and the responses from the Deputy Premier.
"For example, there were questions around the definitions of areas of regional interest and how the threshold trigger of two percent of land area impact is calculated."There were also questions in relation to landholder input on Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) applications and the role of the GasFields Commission which may be requested by the Chief Executive to provide advice in relation to an application.
"The Deputy Premier made it clear that these new regional planning laws were aimed at giving landholders greater input and say upfront about resource developments on agricultural land."Mr Cotter said one of the Commission's key roles is overseeing and reviewing the effectiveness of legislation and regulation for the onshore gas industry. He welcomed feedback from landholders and industry on the implementation of the RPI Act.
AgForce is hosting two free information days on the new regional planning laws for landholders in December including at Roma (3 Dec) and Dalby (4 Dec).
