Large resource projects and nearby regional communities

Working with large resource projects we help ensure nearby communities remain strong and sustainable.

Working with large resource projects

Typically, projects like a mine or gas projects are defined as large resource projects where:

  • an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required, or a site-specific environmental authority is in place under the Environmental Protection Act 1994
  • there are 100 or more workers.

The Coordinator-General can also decide to include or exclude projects.

Large resource projects can make a difference to the lives of Queenslanders by driving:

  • economic growth – generating significant revenue for the state that supports essential services and infrastructure
  • regional development - bringing investment to regional areas and creating opportunities for local businesses, and employment opportunities for locals
  • benefits for local communities – ensuring potential impacts are managed responsibly and benefits are realised locally.

The Office of the Coordinator-General works with large resource projects to:

  • navigate application processes
  • facilitate approvals
  • ensure environmental, cultural and social impacts are properly managed, and
  • ensure the best outcomes for Queensland.

You can:

Obligations to local communities

There are obligations for large resource projects to provide benefits to local communities, known as ‘resource communities’.

Resource communities typically:

  • have a population of more than 200 residents
  • are within 125km of a large resource project.

The Coordinator-General can also decide to include or exclude projects with different populations or distances.

Find resource communities on our map.

Large resource projects have obligations to provide:

  • fair employment opportunities for locals during the construction and operation stages. They are subject to the Anti-discrimination Act 1991 and can’t have 100% fly-in-fly-out workforces.
  • social and economic benefits. Manage the impacts of large resource projects on resource communities.

The Coordinator-General has powers under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017 (SSRC Act) to ensure they’re being met.

There are more obligations set out for large resource projects under the law, including the:

We work with large resource projects to meet the requirements of the law through:

These processes identify the potential impacts, ways to manage them, and put plans in place to help resource communities remain strong and sustainable. We also play an important ongoing role monitoring and reviewing compliance. This includes the Coordinator-General approved social impact management plans and the project and annual reporting requirements.

Environmental impact statements

The EIS process identifies environmental, social and economic impacts of the project and proponent proposals to avoid, minimise, mitigate and/or offset those potential impacts. The EIS should demonstrate that the project is based on sound environmental principles and practices. To do this, each EIS is based on a Terms of Reference that is developed by our office that defines what must be covered in the EIS.

The Office of the Coordinator-General evaluates the EIS for resource projects assessed as coordinated projects under the SDPWO Act.

Read the guideline for preparing an environmental impact statement.

Other resource projects are evaluated under the EP Act, and the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation manages EIS through their process. The Office of the Coordinator-General assesses the SIA component for these projects.

Social impact assessments

We evaluate SIAs for all large resource projects. Non-resource projects generally have SIA requirements and are evaluated accordingly in line with the SIA guidance material.

Find out more about Social impact assessments.

Relevant resources

You can also read or download the:

Last updated: 25 November 2025

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