05 May 2011

Council lodged a submission to the Draft SPP in late February 2011. The submission incorporated a number of recommendations, including those about providing a clear distinction between future urban areas and existing urban areas, assessment processes and clarification of mapping to be used, as well as a number of policy matters. 

The framework for the creation of the Draft SPP commenced with the Temporary SPP 1/10: Protecting Wetlands of High Ecological Significance in the Great Barrier Reef Catchments which covered 35 catchments.  The Draft SPP now includes the Wide Bay Burnett catchment.  The intent of the policy is to regulate development involving high impact earthworks, in or near wetlands of high ecological significance. Currently the Vegetation Management Act 1999 provides protection for clearing of vegetation important to wetlands whilst the new draft SPP is intending to address the impacts of significant earthworks.
 
Information relating to the Draft SPP and Guidelines can be assessed from the Department of Environment and Resource Management website.

Please direct any queries in relation to this matter to the Department's support team by telephone (07 3330 5776) or email.