Feedback has been called on proposed changes to legislation designed to reduce the regulatory burden on petroleum exploration and pipeline activities.

There are two ‘existing petroleum environmentally relevant activity standards’ under consideration.

The proposed changes will allow the transport of alternative gases in approved pipelines and allow for necessary water monitoring bores in primary protection zones of environmentally sensitive areas. 

• Draft updated ERA Standard for petroleum pipeline activities (PDF, 817KB)
• Draft updated ERA Standard for petroleum exploration activities

The updates are being made to provide clarity about the activities that can use the standards and reduce regulatory burden.

Updates have also been made to correct out of date legislation, document references and to streamline and clarify certain conditions. 

Public consultation on the proposed updates to the ERA standards is a requirement under section 318A of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).

Written submissions should be emailed to RRS.Consultation@detsi.qld.gov.au by 5pm on 17 November 2025. 

This ERA is administered by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation.

Meanwhile, public comments on a proposal by Stanmore ID Extension project Pty Ltd to develop the Isaac Downs Extension project have two weeks to run.

Stanmore is applying to develop an open-cut coal mine pit and associated infrastructure, mining 2—4.5 million tonnes per year of run-of-mine coal over 15 years within an area of approximately 2,707 hectares. 

The project will result in approximately 30 Mt of primarily metallurgical coal product over the mining life.

The project is within Mining Lease application (MLA) 700081, MLA 700082, MLA 700083 and MLA 700084 in the Bowen Basin.