Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018

Overview

This bill creates 'special wildlife reserves' - a new type of protected area for private land that provides the same level of protection as national parks. Landholders voluntarily enter perpetual agreements with the government to protect their land from mining, forestry and other incompatible uses, while retaining ownership. The bill also extends Great Barrier Reef environmental protections to activities crossing into Commonwealth waters.

Who it affects

Private landholders with high conservation value land gain a new option to permanently protect their property. Conservation organisations benefit from stronger protections for land they manage. Mining and forestry industries cannot operate on declared reserves.

Key changes

• Creates special wildlife reserves - privately owned land with national park-level protection from mining, forestry and fossicking
• Landholders enter voluntary, perpetual conservation agreements that bind future owners of the land
• Revoking a special wildlife reserve requires a resolution of the Legislative Assembly, the same process as for national parks
• Conservation agreements now automatically survive lease renewals and tenure conversions without needing to be renegotiated
• Environmental Protection Act extended to regulate activities partly in Queensland and partly in Commonwealth waters within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park