New protections for SEQ koalas
The Queensland Government has released new koala habitat mapping for South East Queensland to support implementation of the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy. This new mapping replaces previous koala assessable development area mapping.
Amendments have also been made to koala conservation protections within the planning framework. The Nature Conservation and Other Legislation (Koala Protection) Amendments Regulation 2020 came into effect 7 February 2020. Within Southeast Queensland, the Koala Assessment and Compliance team, Department of Environment and Science, will provide a range of compliance functions including:
- enforcement of development offences under the Planning Act 2016 as they relate to assessable development in koala habitat areas, including environmental offset conditions imposed on development approvals
- enforcement of clearing requirements under the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017
- auditing and compliance functions under the State Government Supported Infrastructure Koala Conservation Policy July 2017
- auditing rehabilitation permit holders under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
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