How could works in a Ramsar-wetland area of national environmental significance proceed without environmental approvals?

The Queensland Government approved a works regulation directing the Coordinator-General to undertake the Bribie Island Emergency works and enliven powers under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.

The works regulation authorises the Coordinator-General to undertake emergency works in, on, over, through or across the foreshore of Bribie Island, Caloundra, Golden Beach or Pelican Waters, or on land laying under the waters of Moreton Bay, including the taking of various types of material from those places for use in the works. Additionally, these powers relevantly include power to enter and occupy land for the purposes of the works, for example to establish compounds for equipment laydown, stockpiling and contractor facilities.

In practice, this allows the Coordinator-General to work in the foreshore or submerged land and take sand from the Pumicestone Passage and the designated offshore areas.

The Australian Minister for the Environment and Water determined that it is in the national interest to grant an exemption for the emergency works from provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The reasons for the decision are available on the website of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.