Increased protections, greater certainty for globally iconic Queensland section of Lake Eyre Basin

• The rivers and floodplains in the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin are set to be better protected by the Miles Government.
• The changes will better safeguard vital agriculture and tourism industries, and the region’s communities who depend on the integrity of the rivers and floodplains. 
• For the critical minerals industry, this balanced package maintains settings and provides certainty for the continued growth of the North-West Minerals Province, which will play a vital role in global decarbonisation.   
• The proposed approach will also see Queensland continue to do the heavy lifting when it comes to vital gas supply into the east coast market. Existing projects can continue, and new production can be considered away from the rivers and floodplains.
• Traditional Custodians will receive additional support to manage Country and Culture and have a greater say in the future of the region.

The Miles Government is delivering on election commitments to assure the continued prosperity and future sustainability of the iconic Queensland Lake Eyre Basin region with key changes to the way the area is regulated.

The changes include:

• protecting more areas in the region by better mapping the sensitive and fragile rivers and floodplains,
• maintaining existing conventional production in those rivers and floodplains, but preventing future oil and gas production in those areas as well as ruling out unconventional gas extraction,
• better recognising and conserving the special ecological features that make the region a global icon, such as braided channel networks and wildlife corridors, and unique species, and
• working with First Nations Traditional Custodians to ensure their Country and cultural values are better protected, that their priorities and aspirations are supported.

The Lake Eyre Basin is a vital part of Australia’s largest drainage system and home to one of the last remaining free-flowing arid river systems in the world.

The changes follow considerable public consultation undertaken earlier this year, which saw around 17,500 submissions and other responses made.

The overwhelming majority of these submissions, around 98 per cent, supported strengthened protections for the rivers and floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin. A detailed impact analysis was undertaken to confirm the best approaches.

The changes will enhance the region’s reputation for producing world renowned clean, green organic beef, and provide organic grazing, tourism, and other sectors greater confidence to plan and invest in the Lake Eyre Basin region.

This means that the approximately 1,600 people employed in grazing and agriculture have great prospects, the spending and incomes generated from visitors to the region can grow, and the jobs, royalties and rates income from the resources sector will continue into future.

As the changes will not be retrospective, existing approved conventional gas development can continue.

Holders of existing petroleum exploration tenures, including potential commercial areas within the rivers and floodplains, will be able to apply for a production lease until 30 August 2024.

Where an application has already been made, these will also continue to be considered under the existing requirements. However, unconventional oil and gas extraction will not be allowed.  

The changes will only apply in in the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin. They recognise the unique environmental, cultural and economic contribution of the rivers and floodplains of the region.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier Steven Miles:

“Lake Eyre Basin is part of what we love about Queensland.

“It’s important that my Government protects this great part of our state for generations of Queenslanders to come.

“The changes strike a good balance in preserving the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin region, while providing industry with the tools they need to grow and develop.

“My government will always deliver what’s best for Queensland – economically, environmentally, socially and culturally – and this is another example of that commitment in action.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Innovation Leanne Linard:

“The Queensland Lake Eyre Basin is a truly special area with global ecological and cultural significance. Regionally, the basin is economically, socially, culturally, and environmentally important,” she said.

“We are a government who listens. More than 17,000 submissions were made during the consultation period and it’s that direct feedback that has helped deliver our approach.

“During the public consultation period for these reforms, I was fortunate to once again visit the region and was in awe of the spectacular natural beauty of the area and the Traditional Owners’ deep connection to Country. 

“The Miles government is committed to the ongoing preservation of the ecological and cultural values in the rivers, watercourses and floodplains of the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin and First Nations Peoples’ connection to the land.

“Healthy water flow is the lifeblood of these landscapes, with communities, graziers, and Traditional Owners all understanding how precious and fragile the rivers and floodplains are.

“When the bigger flows come, these areas and the wetlands and waterholes they feed into come alive, with waterbirds like pelicans and stilts arriving in their thousands to breed. The Lake Eyre Basin’s wetlands also support species of threatened migratory shorebirds, like the Critically Endangered Curlew Sandpiper.

“Maintaining clean and uninterrupted flow of the waterways in the basin is critical to the survival of the wildlife and the businesses and communities in the region.

“Through this public consultation, we sought to achieve the best balance between economic prosperity for Queensland and ecological sustainability for the region, now and into the future. 

“I am very pleased that we have found a pathway forward that gets that balance right, by addressing future risks and threats with geographic precision, which provides industry with greater clarity and certainty about their future operations.

“This outcome will ensure the basin’s unique and important ecological features will be protected for future generations.”

ENDS