Improving South East Queensland’s koala habitat regulations
New development regulations were introduced in 2020 to protect the areas in which koalas live in SEQ and help safeguard the future of this iconic species.
The regulations included conditions for development approvals and assessments that deter these areas from being cleared.
The review of the regulations was completed in 2024. Queenslanders and the urban development and conservation sectors were consulted to make sure that we understand the impacts the regulations may have had, and ensure they remain effective.
The review found that the regulations are working well and have achieved:
- increased protections for koala habitat
- improved habitat mapping
- better planning controls.
The review also supported minor amendments to the regulations to reduce complexity around exemptions for landholders.
Based on the review’s findings, we will:
- improve guidance and certainty to landholders proposing to clear koala habitat
- reduce the complexity of exemptions (by amending the Planning Regulation 2017 and Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017)
- develop a web based-notification system so landholders can advise when clearing koala habitat.
The changes will better protect koala habitat while also help reduce wait times for landholders requiring development approval.
There are no proposed amendments to the koala habitat mapping.
A Decision Post Implementation Impact Analysis Statement has been published which summarises the feedback collected from the public consultation, and the final recommendations of the review.
Read more information on the current rules and regulations.
For further information, email SEQKoalaStrategy@des.qld.gov.au