The Queensland Government has begun public consultation on the establishment of an environmental protection agency in the state.
The aim of the consultation is to understand the views and needs of the community and stakeholders about the future of environmental regulation in Queensland.
Queensland is the only state in Australia without an external independent Environmental Protection Agency.
The agency will be responsible for environmental protection and regulation.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said this is part of the government’s commitment to protect the environment, provide greater investment certainty and support economic recovery.
Queenslanders are being encouraged to voice their opinion by completing a survey.
“We want to hear from Queenslanders about what they think when it comes to an environmental protection agency,” Ms Scanlon said in a statement.
The survey has eight questions and will take around five minutes to complete, according to Ms Scanlon.
“The survey is quick and easy and open to all Queenslanders who have a view on environmental protection. Submissions will be used to inform future decisions around a potential independent EPA.
This is part of a broader program of consultation that the Queensland Department of Environment and Science is conducting between November 2021 and March 2022.
Consultation will close on February 6.
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This initiative would be a massive improvement on current developments being considered in Redlands that are so very damaging to the environment.
The idea is great. BUT will it have any teeth if there are conflicts with councils.??
Will bureaucracy win a potential standoff, because the agency is under the Council wing?? These things need to be known, before a survey is put out.
Regards and Good luck.
David Mansford.
I believe we need an independent environmental protection agency because it has become one of the most important issues of our time and should not be allied with other sectors of Government. We need an Environment Minister who takes advice from this agency and puts the environment first not the politics/power/pressure that usually control decisions on developments which impact animal and bird habitat. Of course development needs to happen but balanced with the long term survival of precious wildlife. Once lost it can never be recovered.
An EPA is vitally needed in Queensland given the current damage to wildlife habitat that could cause many species such as koalas and bandicoots to become extinct. Currently many councils are focussed on property developments with new estates lacking parklands or green belts. I live on an island in Moreton Bay and am also concerned over the state of the seagrass beds in the bay and the damage to dugongs and turtles, and the disappearance of seabirds and fishes in the bay. On the island I am seeing fewer and fewer of the migratory birds visiting the island as trees are cut down and feral cats kill birds and mammals.
Yes we definitely need this as we are going through issues with this right now. we own acreage in Redlands bought specifically to rehabilitate and release wildlife as I’m a wildlife carer of 17 years and Redlands council is allowing a 12 truck parking and maintenance industry too open 24 meters from my house on rural zoning in koala habitat. State council isn’t interested in even talkin to me after numerous phone calls and emails.