The Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 commenced today by
proclamation, and
will have significant implications for the resources industry
as it creates a new approval requirement for resource activities
and certain "regulated activities" carried out in:
- priority agricultural areas;
- priority living areas;
- the strategic cropping area; and
- strategic environmental areas.
The final Regional Planning Interests Regulation 2014 was also
made today. The regulation contains the assessment criteria for
applications made under the Act, prescribes the circumstances when
applications will have to be notified, and sets out timeframes
under the Act.
Operators of both current and proposed resource projects should
give careful consideration to the legislation, in particular the
exemptions and transitional provisions, because they might now need
to get authorisation for their activities in accordance with the
legislation.
