Regulations and approvals for development activities

Unless your aquaculture business meets the accepted development requirements, you will need a development approval issued under the Planning Act 2016. Find more information on applying for a development approval for aquaculture.

You will need to have a development approval if you wish to undertake:

  • removal, destruction or damage of marine plants
  • building or operational works in a declared fish habitat area
  • aquaculture in tidal water, marine and freshwater
  • waterway barrier works.

The table below summarises the types of approvals that may be required for aquaculture-related development activities. We strongly recommend that you contact Fisheries Queensland on 13 25 23 to discuss your proposal and the approvals required.

Activity Approval typeLegislation Advice agency
Assessable aquaculture development
(outside scope of accepted development (PDF,526KB))
Development approval for material change of use for aquaculture Planning Act 2016 Fisheries Queensland
  • Biosecurity
  • Aquatic health
  • Fish habitats
Assessable aquaculture development
(outside scope of accepted development (PDF, 526KB))
Development approval for material change of use for aquaculture Planning Act 2016 Department of Environment and Science (DES)
  • General environmental protection
  • Effluent discharge
Assessable aquaculture development
(outside scope of accepted development (PDF, 526KB))
Development approval for material change of use for aquaculture Planning Act 2016 DES
  • Water extraction in freshwater areas
Marine plant removal
(outside scope of accepted development (PDF, 993KB))
Development approval for operational works Planning Act 2016 Fisheries Queensland
  • Fish habitats
Marine plant removal
(outside scope of accepted development (PDF, 993KB))
Development approval for operational works Planning Act 2016 DES
  • General environmental protection
  • Vegetation clearing

How aquaculture applications are assessed

The Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DILGP) is the assessment manager or referral agency for development applications where there is a mater of interest to the state under the Planning Act 2016. DILGP is the single point of lodgement for all development applications that are assessed through the State Assessment and Referral Agency.

Fisheries Queensland provides advice on those elements of your development approval application that relate to aquaculture operations (including biosecurity and health) and aquatic habitats and pest fish (including marine plants and declared fish habitat areas).

Also consider...

  • For more information on assessment fees and forms for aquaculture development applications read our aquaculture fees and forms guide.