TSBE is pleased to share that a significant Queensland Government announcement affecting our region was made at TSBE’s Miles Enterprise Evening last night, reinforcing TSBE’s role in ensuring our members are on the front foot of region shaping developments.
Coordinator-General from the Department of State Development and Infrastructure, Gerard Coggan announced that the Queensland Government has formally approved a Works Regulation under the State Development Act for the Taroom Trough, following direction from the Premier.
Key points of the announcement include:
- The regulation was authorised by Governor in Council on Thursday afternoon (23 April)
- It provides the Coordinator General with statutory authority to work directly with industry, government agencies and landholders to coordinate development
- The regulation was delivered in under three weeks, compared to the usual months long timeframe, signalling strong government commitment
- It will streamline assessment and delivery, enabling coordinated and timely action to unlock the region’s resource potential.
The announcement also outlined the focus of the forthcoming Taroom Trough Development Plan, which will:
- Establish a shared vision and clear development pathway for the basin
- Ensure development is safe, efficient, responsible and informed by lessons from the CSG industry
- Assess subsurface potential across the basin
- Plan for shared and efficient infrastructure, including roads, power, water and existing oil and gas assets
- Improve regulatory efficiency, providing certainty for industry and communities
- Clarify pathways to market, including refining and storage for Queensland regional communities
- Emphasise social licence, community engagement and transparent consultation processes.
It was also noted that the Queensland Government is working closely with the Federal Government to better align approval pathways, recognising the importance of coordinated regulation for projects of this scale.
TSBE will continue to keep members informed as the Taroom Trough Development Plan progresses and as opportunities arise for local businesses and communities.
