Conditions for coordinated projects
The Coordinator-General may impose conditions on projects declared coordinated projects under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act). This is to ensure that the impacts of these projects are properly managed.
The Coordinator-General may also state conditions that must be attached to future approvals, such as an environmental authority, or a relevant planning approval.
We document these conditions in the:
- evaluation report on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for a coordinated project
- evaluation report on the impact assessment report (IAR) for a coordinated project
- change report for a coordinated project (if applicable)
- material change of use approval for a coordinated project in a State development area
- evaluation report on the social impact assessment (SIA) (under s11(2) of the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017)
- report that includes an evaluation of the potential social impacts of a large resource project under the SDPWO Act, or the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
We then monitor and evaluate whether projects are being developed in accordance with the conditions imposed on them.
Under the SDPWO Act conditions, and sometimes recommendations, are legally enforceable. They apply to anyone undertaking a project. This includes the:
- project proponent
- proponent's agents
- proponent's contractors
- proponent's subcontractors
- proponent's licensees.
Administering authorities
The Coordinator-General may nominate an administering authority, such as the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, to have jurisdiction for conditions for coordinated projects. This administering authority would then be responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with those conditions.
However, the Coordinator-General retains overall responsibility for the auditing and enforcement of imposed conditions.
Compliance activities
Our compliance activities include:
- providing advice to the Coordinator-General on the conditioning of approvals, to ensure that conditions are reasonable, relevant and enforceable
- monitoring of compliance with imposed conditions of approval
- assessing non-compliance notifications and providing possible enforcement options – the Coordinator-General decides on the most appropriate enforcement option
- reviewing third-party audit reports and providing advice to the Coordinator-General on audit outcomes and any actions that may be required
- maintaining collaborative working arrangements with state agencies, or other entities that have condition jurisdiction or a compliance role.
Compliance measures
We use a range of compliance measures to ensure project proponents comply with the conditions imposed on coordinated projects. These compliance measures include:
- education
- remediation
- enforcement actions.
Third-party audits
The project proponent may be required to undertake a third-party audit of compliance with conditions imposed on a project. An independent and suitably qualified person/s is required to conduct this audit.
The frequency of project auditing varies but is generally conducted every 6 to 12 months during the audit period. The audit period remains active until all conditions imposed have been met.
Audit report
Third-party audit reports must be submitted to us for review. It certifies the status of all imposed conditions. The report must include:
- findings of the audit
- any breaches of imposed conditions
- any corrective actions taken, or revised practices to be implemented.
Relevant resources
- Overview: management and enforcement of Coordinator-General conditions for coordinated projects (
250.6 KB)
For more information
- Contact us ocgcompliance@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au.