Nominating land for the Queensland Exploration Program

Expressions of interest (EOIs) to nominate areas for exploration are an important part of planning for future exploration in Queensland. Resource companies play a significant role in this process by identifying and nominating areas of land they believe may be prospective for resources development.

All EOIs we receive are considered for inclusion in a Queensland Exploration Program (QEP).

EOIs received for the 2023 QEP

The EOI process to nominate land areas for inclusion in the 2023 QEP was open from 22 November 2022 until 24 February 2023.

During this period a total of 59 EOIs were received:

• 40 petroleum and gas
• 6 coal
• 10 greenhouse gas storage
• 3 mineral.

These EOIs were assessed against a range of social, environmental and economic factors for possible inclusion in the 2023 QEP.

EOIs that are not included in the current schedule may still be considered for a future land release. Following the release of the 2023 QEP, all EOI submitters will be contacted with feedback on their nominated areas of land where they were not included in the 2023 QEP.

How we selected land for the 2023 QEP

The Department of Resources used several tools to assess all EOIs, such as GeoResGlobe and the Queensland Globe.

We also considered the merits of each EOI in relation to the following factors:

• environmental, regional and state future planning such as residential or commercial areas, national parks, infrastructure works
• if a resource authority already exists over any part of the EOI
• if multiple EOIs are received over the same area
• the area's prospectivity and commercial viability
• geological knowledge of the area
• the area's location in relation to resources markets and supporting infrastructure such as roads, transport and export hubs
• overall development of each basin or resource area
• existing demand for the resource
• Queensland's supply of the resource
• expected demand from Queensland's customers.

We conducted an initial assessment of constraints for all EOI submissions, and consulted relevant Queensland agencies where more detailed information was required for specific areas of land.

How we managed overlaps and size constraints

Where EOIs overlapped existing exploration authorities for the same commodity the areas were modified to remove the overlaps, as overlapping areas cannot be released for tender.

Where several EOIs overlapped areas for the same or a different commodity, these were combined or reshaped prior to further assessment. As a result, multiple EOIs could have been represented within 1 tender release area.

Some of the EOIs exceeded the maximum size limit for a tender release area for a specific commodity. These areas were reduced in size and, where relevant, the EOI submitter was contacted to discuss the changes and their preferred option for proceeding with the EOI.

EOIs that were identified as intruding on national parks and nature refuges were modified through the assessment process to remove sub-blocks which included the overlaps. Removing these overlaps provided a clear distinction between land available for exploration and land with environmental protections.

Why we did not include some land areas

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) conflicts

Queensland's resources industry has strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) foundations; robust frameworks for environmental protections and land access; and a focus on our people, our social and institutional structures, genuine partnerships with First Nations peoples, and sustainable community legacies. ESG was an important consideration in the assessment of EOIs.

While coexistence is the goal for land use, some areas were not included in the 2023 QEP because they presented possible barriers to successful exploration of resources due to competing land uses and values.

Find out how we notified communities and stakeholders of the 2023 QEP and upcoming tenders.

Lake Eyre Basin

We received significant interest for land areas within the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) region, also known as the Channel Country in western Queensland, with over half of the EOI submissions for 2023 located within the LEB.

At the EOIs were being lodged, a consultation process was underway to consider the preservation of environmental safeguards for the rivers and floodplains of the LEB, and how this can be achieved alongside sustainable economic development for the region.

This consultation was led by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation and has been completed with release of the Decision Impact Analysis Statement for the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin (PDF, 4MB) which details regulatory changes announced by the Queensland Government on 22 December 2023.

Greenhouse gas storage

We also received significant interest for greenhouse gas (GHG) storage exploration through the EOI process. However, we decided not to include GHG storage areas in the 2023 QEP.

In June 2024, the Queensland Government introduced a legislative ban on GHG storage activities in the area of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), in Queensland, that is the area on or below the surface of the plan area under the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 (PDF, 1.2MB).

Previous GHG storage exploration areas submitted through the EOI process within the Great Artesian Basin in Queensland will not be considered for future releases.

Any future releases of GHG storage exploration land may only occur outside of the Great Artesian Basin, and subject to existing regulatory assessment and approval processes. To inform any future GHG storage activities outside of the Great Artesian Basin, the Queensland Government is undertaking a technical review of the safety aspects of GHG storage.

Read more about the ban on GHG activities in the GAB.

After tenders are awarded

While all areas of land included in the 2023 QEP had undergone constraints analysis and some areas had been modified, all released areas are still subject to environmental, land use and other constraints.

Exploration companies who are awarded tender areas must manage these constraints through regulatory processes as they progress through resource authority application, and on-ground exploration activity processes.

Contact us

• Email resources-tenders@resources.qld.gov.au or phone +61 7 3096 6191 for help and information about exploration opportunities.
• To receive updates and information on future land releases and upcoming tenders, subscribe to our mailing list.

Also consider...

• Find out about the competitive tendering process.
• View current tenders for exploration.