Fisheries development approvals and accepted development
Before you begin
Contact the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) to discuss your proposal and the approvals required.
Under the Planning Act 2016 and the Fisheries Act 1994 (Qld), you must have the correct authorisation prior to undertaking fisheries-related development. Failure to comply could lead to prosecution under this legislation.
Operational works
- Removal, destruction or damage of marine plants—trimming, pruning, burning, removing or damaging any marine plants.
- Constructing or raising a waterway barrier—temporary and permanent waterway barriers, including weirs, dams and waterway crossings.
- Works in a declared fish habitat area (FHA)—any works completely or partly within an FHA.
Material change of use
- Aquaculture of all sizes, in tidal, marine or freshwater.
- Non-fisheries activities involving the removal, destruction or damage of marine plants.
Accepted development requirements and notification
Certain works do not require development approval if they can meet the accepted development requirements.
Removal, destruction or damage of marine plants
- Read the marine plant disturbance accepted development requirements.
- Complete the pre-works notification form on page 37 of the requirements.
Works within a declared fish habitat area
- Read the accepted development requirements for operational work in a declared fish habitat area.
- Complete the pre-works notification form on page 23 of the requirements.
Material change of use – aquaculture
- Read the aquaculture accepted development requirements.
- Complete the pre-works notification form on page 11 of the requirements.
Constructing or raising waterway barrier works
Major updates have been made to the accepted development requirements for waterway barrier works.
There is a transition period until 30 November 2026.
Until 30 November 2026, you can use either the updated or superseded versions of the accepted development requirements.
Updated version
If you are using the updated waterway barrier works accepted development requirements, complete the notification for operational work that is constructing or raising waterway barrier works.
Superseded version
If you are using the superseded waterway barrier works accepted development requirements, complete either the:
- pre-works notification form on page 39
- post-works notification form on page 42.
Apply for development approval
If your proposed development doesn’t meet the accepted development requirements, it is an assessable development.
You must apply for development approval through SARA.
You can request a pre-lodgement meeting or advice through SARA to discuss your application and understand what you need to do.
Your development must comply with the codes under the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP).
SDAP guidelines
The SDAP guidelines outline how:
- your proposed development is assessed
- to prepare your development application.
Guidelines:
- SDAP Code 11 – Marine plants guidelines
- SDAP Code 12 – Development in a declared fish habitat area guidelines
- SDAP Code 17 – Aquaculture guidelines
- SDAP Code 18 – Waterway barrier works guidelines.
Change a development approval
If you are an aquaculture farmer and your property changes ownership or is leased, you need to update your development approval. Complete the change contact details for aquaculture development approval form.
For any other changes to your development approval, contact SARA.