Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill strengthens protections for the Condamine Alluvium, a major underground water aquifer in southern Queensland that farmers rely on, from the impacts of new coal seam gas (CSG) drilling. It bans new CSG wells from contaminating the aquifer's water quality, expands landholders' rights to compensation when CSG drilling causes the ground to sink, and requires gas companies to get a landholder's agreement before drilling directional wells beneath their land. It also removes a duplicate approval step by moving CSG assessment into the existing environmental authority process.
Who it affects
Farmers and landholders over and near the Condamine Alluvium gain stronger water protections and clearer compensation rights, while coal seam gas companies face new conditions on the wells they drill in the area.
Key changes
- New CSG wells in the Condamine Alluvium area automatically carry a condition banning them from releasing contaminants that would breach the aquifer's water quality objectives.
- Gas companies must compensate landholders for agricultural losses caused by CSG-induced ground subsidence, both on the gas tenement and on land within 5 km outside it.
- Drilling a directional well under a property is now an 'advanced activity', so the gas company must reach a conduct and compensation agreement with the landholder first.
- The Land Court of Queensland can decide and review subsidence compensation disputes and can order non-monetary as well as monetary compensation.
- CSG in the area no longer needs a separate regional interests development approval, with assessment shifted to the environmental authority process.
Bill Journey
▸Committee25 Mar 2026View Hansard
Referred to Primary Industries and Resources Committee
6 members · Chair: Stephen Bennett
The Primary Industries and Resources Committee examined the bill, which makes targeted changes to planning, environmental and resources laws to balance new coal seam gas (CSG) development against protections for groundwater and landholders in the Condamine Alluvium area. After receiving 56 submissions and holding public hearings in Brisbane and Dalby, the committee recommended the bill be passed, but also recommended it be amended to keep the Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) process in the area rather than removing it as the bill proposed. Two minority statements were attached: a Statement of Reservation from the Labor Opposition members and a Dissenting Report from Robbie Katter (KAP), who opposed passage entirely.
Key findings (6)
- Most stakeholders supported the overall objectives of the bill but raised concerns about specific changes, particularly the proposed removal of the RIDA framework from the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee found the RIDA process is an important safeguard and negotiation tool for landholders even though it has been used infrequently, and recommended it be retained rather than removed.
- Stakeholders sought clearer guidance on how the new deemed water-quality condition under the Environmental Protection Act and the expanded CSG-induced subsidence compensation framework would work in practice.
- Submitters and the committee identified a need for better data on CSG-induced subsidence and stronger communication with landholders about the new safeguards and dispute resolution options.
- The committee assessed the bill as having sufficient regard for fundamental legislative principles and concluded any limits on human rights were proportionate and justified.
- The committee recommended a post-implementation review 36 months after commencement to test whether the water-quality and subsidence-compensation measures are working.
Recommendations (7)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
- The committee recommends that the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations amend the Bill to retain the regional interests development approval process within the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee recommends that the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation develop practical guidance materials, including examples and compliance scenarios, to assist stakeholders, including resource authority holders, in understanding how the proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 will apply in practice.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government consider allocating additional resources to the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment to facilitate the generation of more granular data about CSG-induced subsidence in the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee recommends that the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development develop practical guidance materials on the proposed changes to the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014. This should include guidance on evidentiary matters and baseline measurement and monitoring, to assist stakeholders in understanding what is required to establish an evidence base.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government consider expanding communication with landholders to improve awareness, access to information and support relating to the new regulatory framework. This should include communication about the safeguard mechanisms for groundwater extraction, protections against gas migration, and the independent dispute resolution mechanisms available.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government commence a post-implementation review of the changes contained in the Bill 36 months after its commencement. This review should include the effectiveness of the deemed condition in protecting water quality and the operation of the CSG-induced subsidence compensation framework.
Committee report tabled
Referenced Entities
Legislation
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Sectors Affected
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Source Documents
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