Fisheries Queensland are updating the Accepted development requirements for operational work that is constructing or raising waterway barrier works (ADR). The update includes new remediation work types to assist local governments, state agencies, natural resource management groups and other stakeholders to undertake some commonly used waterway remediation or restoration works that would otherwise require development approval under the Planning Act 2016.
Since the implementation of the Reef 2050 Plan, the Impact Assessment and Management team in Fisheries Queensland has noticed an increase in development applications for structures such as pile fields and rock chutes to remediate erosion issues and reduce sediment to downstream waterways. These structures are generally waterway barrier works and would require a development approval, however new provisions have been implemented in the ADR to allow these types of works to occur as accepted development.
Additional work types are proposed to allow partial removal of barriers such as tidal bunds and weirs; and remediation of existing barriers to fish passage such as culvert crossings and causeways. Often local governments do not have sufficient funding to replace barriers to fish passage that have not yet reached their end-of-design life. Allowing construction of fish-friendly infrastructure including floor baffles and fishways as accepted development, provides an avenue to partially remediate barriers in the interim until the barrier can be removed or reconstructed appropriately.
The eleven new remediation work types proposed are based on environmental decision making that balances stakeholder feedback, government aligned priorities and mitigation of risk. It is anticipated that the changes made will benefit a range of stakeholders to achieve outcomes in a timelier manner and at lower cost; and improve water quality and fish passage.