Making an enquiry and engaging in pre-lodgement for a resource project

Making an enquiry

Planning a large-scale resource project in Queensland is a complex process. The project must meet a number of legislative and regulatory requirements including:

  • granting of a resource authority (tenure) from the Department of Resources
  • approval as a suitable person to operate a site with an environmental approval from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI)
  • assessment of and approvals to manage
    • environmental impacts from DESI or the Office of the Coordinator-General (OCG)
    • social impacts from the OCG.

More information

As part of the enquiry process, read the following guides for more information.

Department of Resources

Office of Coordinator General

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI)

About pre-lodgement

All departments strongly encourage pre-lodgement meeting(s) before any formal applications are made for a resource project.

Pre-lodgement meetings give the applicant/client an opportunity to:

  • discuss early concepts (pre-design) of the project
  • determine project feasibility
  • seek information to understand if their proposed application will meet the legislative requirements.

In addition, pre-lodgement meetings can initiate discussion around expected timeframes and the quality of information necessary for the application process for each department.

Pre-lodgement contacts

To organise pre-lodgement meetings, contact each department by phone or email.

Department of Resources

Contact the relevant assessment hub.

Mineral Assessment Hub

Coal Assessment Hub

Petroleum Assessment Hub

Small Scale Mining Hub

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation

You can request a pre-lodgement meeting by completing and returning the form Application for pre-lodgement services (ESR/2015/1664 and ESR/2023/6440).

If you have any questions or for more information, contact Permit and Licence Management on 1300 130 372 (select option 4) or by emailing palm@des.qld.gov.au.

Office of the Coordinator-General

Phone:

  • +61 7 3022 6100
  • 1800 001 048

Email: cpdinfo@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au

Next steps

Once you have engaged with the necessary departments and developed a better understanding of your project's regulatory path, you can: