Development approvals in Key Resource Areas

Quarries and other extractive industries

Identification of a site as a Key Resource Area (KRA) and inclusion in the State Planning Policy (SPP) does not in any way authorise the extraction of the resource nor give anyone the right to establish or operate a quarry. The SPP is designed to maintain access to resources so they can be approved under the development assessment process when they are needed.

Anyone proposing to start quarry operations must submit a development application to the local government, which will then assess the application using the development assessment process set out by the Planning Act 2016.

Potential impacts associated with the operation will be considered during the assessment process.

Development along the transport route

Any development proposed along a KRA transport route will be assessed to ensure it does not adversely affect the safe and efficient use of the route by vehicles transporting extractive material.

Residential development

Rights to build a single dwelling house on an existing unoccupied lot or to extend an existing dwelling are not affected by the KRA designation regardless of whether the lot is entirely or partly within any of the parts of a KRA.

The local government remains the assessment manager for development applications for dwelling houses as required under the local government planning scheme.

The designation of a site as a KRA ensures that development applications within the KRA are assessed for possible adverse impact on the access to the significant resource but does not restrict all development. Quarry operations may be permitted if management of potential impacts to acceptable levels is feasible.

However, the SPP does not support increasing the number of sensitive land uses or other land uses incompatible with resource extraction within the KRA, e.g. the reconfiguration of a lot that increases the number of lots. Sensitive land uses are typically residential, educational or health related where noise and air quality must be maintained to a high standard.

Other development

Other development within a KRA is assessed to ensure that existing or future extractive industries are not significantly impacted.

As a rule, KRAs are designed to be consistent with the existing planning scheme. Most KRAs cover zones where consistent uses are largely compatible with extractive industry impacts. Rural uses and open space type uses are typical of uses included in KRA separation areas.

Temporary uses that can be readily relocated may also be permissible.

Also consider...

• Access a list of all KRAs in the SPP guideline for mining and extractive resources (PDF, 7.6MB).
• Download maps and reports for each KRA (under the heading 'SPP mapping').
• Access the interactive maps through the SPP Interactive Mapping System (under the heading 'SPP mapping')
• Read about state planning laws.