Riverine protection permits
Find out if you need a riverine protection permit or if you can carry out works under an exemption. Know your obligations.
We grant a riverine protection permit to ensure an activity in a watercourse, lake or spring is done sustainably. An activity may include constructing a crossing, desilting infrastructure or maintaining watercourse integrity.
When you need a riverine protection permit
You might need a riverine protection permit (RPP) if you plan to:
- destroy vegetation in a watercourse e.g. to remove invasive plants
- excavate material in a watercourse e.g. to remove debris or desilt culverts
- place fill in a watercourse e.g. for bank stabilisation.
It is your responsibility to check if you need other authorisations, such as a vegetation clearing permit.
When you don’t need a riverine protection permit
You do not need an RPP if you:
- are doing critical or emergency works – find out more about watercourse works during an emergency
or - plan to sell or productively use riverine quarry material that you excavate (e.g. stone, sand, gravel, clay, rock, earth and soil) – find out more about authorisations to remove riverine quarry materials
or - meet the riverine protection permit exemption requirements (PDF, 143KB)
or - have an exemption.
Riverine protection permit exemption requirements
You do not need an RPP if you meet all the conditions detailed in the riverine protection permit exemption requirements (PDF, 143KB). These include:
- eligibility
- purpose of the activity
- vegetation clearing requirements
- volumetric limits for excavating or placing fill (for landowners only)
- minimum requirements to protect the watercourse, lake or spring.
All the riverine protection permit exemption requirements must be met for an activity to be exempt.
Contact your local business centre to check what is required.
Other exemptions
You may be exempt from needing an RPP if you hold certain authorisations or are carrying out work under other legislation.
Contact your local business centre to discuss other exemptions.
River improvement trusts
River improvement trusts can undertake activities within their local area to help prepare for and recover from disasters.
An RRP isn’t needed when you do work that is covered in the River Improvement Trust Act 1940.
As a landowner, you can work with a trust to get advice or assistance for activities in a watercourse.
Remember, if you have received advice from a trust, but are completing the work yourself, you may still need an RPP.
Find out if there is a river improvement trust in your area.
Apply for a riverine protection permit
If you are not covered by an exemption, you need to apply for an RPP.
- Contact your local business centre to confirm you need an RPP.
- Complete the application for a riverine protection permit (PDF, 616KB).
- Submit your application to WaterHUB@dlgwv.qld.gov.au.
Destroying vegetation, excavating or placing fill in a watercourse, lake or spring without an RPP or an exemption is an offence under the Water Act 2000.
Also consider...
- Find out about approvals to clear native vegetation.
- Find out about repairs to watercourses and water-related infrastructure.