Operating in a protected area, recreation area or forest
Permitting hub
Online Services is the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation's permitting system for permits and authorities issued on Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service managed areas.
Permit and authority holders, and applicants can use Online Services to:
- manage your authority
- submit an application for a new authority
- submit renewals, amendments and returns
- access all your documents in one place.
Commercial Activity Permits for protected areas, recreation areas and forests
Permitting hub
Online Services is the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation's permitting system for permits and authorities issued on Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service managed areas.
Permit and authority holders, and applicants can use Online Services to:
- manage your authority
- submit an application for a new authority
- submit renewals, amendments and returns
- access all your documents in 1 place.
To conduct business or fundraising activities in a national park or other protected area, you must apply for a Commercial Activity Permit (CAP).
CAPs are legally required if you want to operate in the following types of protected areas in Queensland:
- state forests and forest reserves including plantation forests
- national parks
- conservation parks
- resources reserves
- recreation areas, including
- Moreton Island Recreation Area
- Minjerribah Recreation Area
- Bribie Island Recreation Area
- Fraser Island Recreation Area
- Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area
- Cooloola Recreation Area
- Green Island Recreation Area.
Commercial permissions also apply to marine parks. Learn more about marine park permits.
This guide explains how to apply for a CAP, and what you need to do to comply once you have a permit or agreement.
Forms and fees for Commercial Activity Permits
You will need to submit an application form and pay the relevant application and permit fee if you wish to conduct activities requiring a Commercial Activity Permit (CAP) in Queensland national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests.
An activity using multiple tenures and locations (e.g. using a national park and recreation area) only requires 1 application fee. If your application is approved and you wish to make changes after receiving your permit, further fees may apply. Read more about amending an existing CAP.
There are different fees for commercial filming and photography permits.
Applying for a CAP
You need to pay the relevant regulated fees and lodge your application through Online Services.
Register for Online Services or log in to Online Services (if already registered).
Fees for CAP applications (effective 1 July 2025)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $400.40 |
| Application to renew or reissue with no changes (non-refundable) | $199.80 |
| Application to renew with changes to activities and/or locations and/or capacity (non-refundable) | $400.40 |
| Application for variation (e.g. changes to location and/or capacity and/or nature of activity) (non-refundable) | $400.40 |
| Minor amendment (e.g. update person in charge, change of address, amend term of permit) (non-refundable) | $20.75 |
| Transfer fee | $199.40 |
| Permit fee for national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests | |
| 3 months or less | $80.10 |
| More than 3 months but not more than 1 year | $319.80 |
| More than 1 year but not more than 2 years | $640.00 |
| More than 2 years but not more than 3 years | $904.00 |
| More than 3 years but not more than 4 years | $1,206.80 |
| More than 4 years but not more than 5 years | $1,509.60 |
| Other fees for joint marine park permit/CAP | |
| For first 3 years of the term | $904.00 |
| For each year after 3 years up to a maximum of 5 years for a standard CAP or 15 years for a joint marine park permit | $302.80 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day, GST inclusive) – less than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | $2.60 |
| Recreation areas – Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | $2.60 |
| Recreation areas – Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | $4.90 |
| Recreation area – Green Island | $3.50 |
| State forest | $2.60 |
| Daily site fees (per person per day, GST inclusive) – more than 3 hours | |
| National and conservation parks | $4.60 |
| Recreation areas – Bribie Island, Cooloola, Minjerribah or Moreton Island | $4.60 |
| Recreation area – Fraser Island, Inskip Peninsula | $10.35 |
| Recreation area – Green Island | $3.50 |
| State forest | $4.60 |
Fees increase by Consumer Price Index (CPI) in July each year.
Refund policy
An application fee is payable for a CAP. A single application fee will apply to activities using multiple tenures such as protected areas, state forests and recreation areas. If an application is refused, permit fees paid other than the application fee may be refunded.
Consider making a pre-lodgement enquiry to save time and money.
Complying with CAP conditions
Under conditions of your CAP, you must submit a return of operations and may be required to notify Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) before a visit.
Returns of operations
You must submit a return of operations through Online Services within 20 business days of the end of each prescribed period, including a 'Nil' return if no activity occurred during the reporting period.
Quarterly cycles end on the last day of March, June, September and December each year.
If you request an invoice, this will appear in your Online Services account, under 'invoice'. When payments are received, a copy of your receipt will also appear under 'invoice'. Your return of operations will not appear submitted until both the return and payment are complete.
Failure to pay return fees may result in action to suspend or cancel your CAP or agreement.
Learn more about how to submit your return of operations (PDF, 2.1MB).
Daily site fee exemptions
Commercial tour operators are exempt from paying daily fees for each person (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour approved by the Chief Executive. The number of people, school details and a contact person must be recorded on your return of operations. This exemption includes teachers and supervisors and applies to the following groups:
- Australian registered state or independent primary and secondary schools
- Centres offering the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program
- Scouts and Guides
- Home Education students.
Camping fees and bookings
If your commercial activity involves overnight camping, you will need to book and pay through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service.
Commercial tour operators are eligible for a reduced camping fee of $3.85 for each client (5 years or older) participating in an educational tour.
To make online camping bookings for educational groups, you must open an educational account through the Special group account creation process. If you have an existing account for individual use, you will need to register a new account using a different email address. This will allow you to make bookings at the reduced rate for educational groups.
For all other camp bookings as a commercial tour operator, you must open a commercial account through the Special group account creation process.
For further assistance when opening a new account, contact the QPWS Camping Support team at qpws@detsi.qld.gov.au.
Learn more about camping fees and bookings.
Commercial activity notification
You must submit a commercial activity notification if your CAP conditions requires you to notify QPWS before conducting activities in national parks, conservation parks, resources reserves, recreation areas or state forests.
Filming and photography notification
If you have a CAP for filming and photography, you must notify the department 14 days prior to undertaking the filming, by submitting the filming and photography notification form.
Learn more about filming and photography permits and fees.
Amending an existing CAP
You must request changes to your CAP through Online Services to the department. Making an amendment to your CAP or agreement will incur a cost. Changes are either considered a minor amendment or a variation depending on the nature of the request. Variation fees will be equivalent to a full application fee for a new permit of the same type.
For more information on minor amendments, variations and fees, read the operational policy – amendments and variations to permits for QPWS managed areas (PDF, 288KB) and information sheet – fees to conduct commercial and recreational activities on QPWS managed areas (PDF, 326KB).
Selling a business that holds a CAP
If you are planning to sell your business that holds a CAP, the permit may be transferred to another entity.
Buyers will need to apply to transfer a CAP. The buyer will need to meet suitability requirements before they can be granted a CAP and the seller must finalise any outstanding returns and payments prior to handover.
We recommend that all potential buyers conduct proper due diligence and if required, buyers may request a free pre-lodgement meeting with QPWS to discuss the permit transfer process.
Also consider...
- Learn more about Commercial Activity Permits for national parks, recreation areas and state forests.
- Read about commercial filming and photography in national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests.
- Learn more about marine park permits and permits for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Commercial filming and photography in national parks, conservation parks, recreation areas and state forests
If you are a commercial filmmaker or photographer wanting to operate in a national park, conservation park, recreation area or state forest, you must apply for a commercial activity permit (CAP) if the activity involves 11 or more people or the use of structures.
Filming and photography activities involving up to 10 people without prescribed structures do not require a CAP.
Filming and photography notification
Everyone must submit an online filming and photography notification at least 14 days before entering a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) area – regardless of permit requirements. The notification is used to inform local rangers in case of an emergency (e.g. fire), and the First Nations People, to ensure culturally sensitive areas are not being filmed.
Prescribed structures
Prescribed structures are equipment or construction used for filming or photography including, but not limited to a:
- tower
- platform
- generator
- vehicle
- shelter and building
- drone*.
*Note: An exemption may apply if the prescribed structure is a drone 2kg or less in size, and the proposed location is not in a drone restriction area.
Prescribed structures are not:
- camera or camera accessories
- tripod used to support a camera
- portable bird hide large enough to shelter 1 person.
State plantation forests
If you only want to conduct your activity in a state plantation forest, you must apply to HQPlantations for a permit.
If you want to operate in a state plantation forest and a national park, conservation park, state forest or recreation area, you only need to apply to QPWS.
Before you apply
Book a free pre-lodgement meeting
You can request a free pre-lodgement meeting to:
- discuss and develop your proposal
- learn about assessment time frames.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance – the government standard $20 million is required for filming and photography permit holders.
Check for parks alerts and closures
Check park alerts for any closures before you apply for a CAP and before you visit a national park, conservation park, recreation area or state forest.
Applying for a CAP
You need to pay fees and lodge your application through Online Services.
Register for Online Services or log in to Online Services (if already registered).
Fees for filming and photography for 11 or more people without prescribed structures (effective 1 July 2025)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $420.40 |
| Renewal or extension of permit fee | $420.40 |
| Permit fee (per day for activities carried out under the permit) | $210.80 |
Fees for filming and photography – with prescribed structures (effective 1 July 2025)
| Fee title | Number of people involved | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | 6–25 | 26–50 | 51 or more | |
| Application fee | $210.80 | $1,042.00 | $2,100.00 | $4,214.00 |
| Renewal or extension of permit fee | $210.80 | $1,042.00 | $2,100.00 | $4,214.00 |
| Permit fee (per day for activities carried out under the permit) | $210.80 | $1,042.00 | $2,100.00 | $4,214.00 |
Refunds policy
A prescribed application fee is payable for a CAP. A single application fee will apply to activities using multiple tenures such as protected areas, state forests and recreation areas. If an application is refused, permit fees paid other than the application fee, may be refunded by the department.
Consider requesting a free pre-lodgement meeting to save time and money.
Camping fees
If your commercial activity involves overnight camping, you will need to book and pay through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service.
Learn more about camping bookings.
Also consider...
Incident report form for national parks, marine parks, recreation areas and forests
Filming and photography notification
Pre-lodgement enquiry form
Commercial activity notification
Biosecurity management plans for island national parks
Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, everyone in Queensland has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
As a commercial (or other) operator in a protected area, recreation area or forest, you are responsible for managing biosecurity risks that are under your control, that you know about, or should be reasonably expected to know about. This GBO includes island national parks.
Protecting island national parks includes preventing the movement of invasive animals, and plant pests and diseases (invasive species) to these sensitive locations, particularly considering unique island population dynamics of flora and fauna. These invasive species can cause ecological harm, significantly impacting the environmental and cultural values of island national parks.
Pests and diseases
Commercial and other activities carried out on island national parks have the potential to spread invasive species to these areas.
Invasive species can move via natural processes (e.g. wind, ocean, birds, but they can also spread by 'hitch-hiking' on goods or people, including:
- equipment, vehicles, cargo, machinery, mobile structures and tools which can transport soil or organic matter that can carry weed seeds or invasive pests (e.g. timber borers and termites can be moved in timber pallets)
- personal effects and recreational equipment such as mountain bikes, camping gear and storage boxes that can be contaminated with soil containing weed seeds or invasive pests (e.g. weed seeds attached to clothing or footwear).
Invasive species include, but are not limited to:
- invasive insects, such as
- yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
- electric ants (Wasmannia auropunctata)
- tropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminate)
- Asian honey bees (Apis cerana)
- invasive animal pests or non-endemic animals, such as
- cane toads
- rodents
- snails
- reptiles
- invasive weeds, such as
- Lantana spp.
- Siam weed (Chromolaena spp.)
- plant diseases, such as
- myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii), a fungal disease of native eucalyptus species
- Phytophthora, a plant disease which can be contained in soil.
Biosecurity management plans
You may need a biosecurity management plan (BMP) to manage biosecurity risks when you are carrying out commercial and other activities on island national parks. This may be a condition of your Commercial Activity Permit (CAP) or agreement, or organised event permit.
A BMP helps to prevent the movement of invasive pests by outlining specific biosecurity risks that are unique to a place and activity, and the reasonable measures and processes applied to mitigate those biosecurity risks. The details and scope of a BMP will depend on the time, frequency, and scale of your activity.
Where a BMP is a condition of your permit or agreement, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) may audit the biosecurity processes and may request a review or amendment where necessary. A BMP must be a stand-alone document and should contain procedures tailored to your specific activity.
BMP template
We suggest you use the following headings and considerations to guide the development of a BMP specific to your activity.
-
Provide a general overview of the activity, including:
- the individual/position that will be responsible for managing the biosecurity components
- the area of operations (e.g. departure ports, arrival ports and staging/storage of equipment)
- type of activities (e.g. moving workers or discharging construction materials)
- transportation used (e.g. vessels or aircraft)
- a map of the site that identifies storage sites before departing the mainland and at the island destination (e.g. laydown area*, storage facilities or wharf if applicable).
* An area outside of the worksite where tools, materials, equipment, vehicles, etc are stored until needed.
Supplement the above text by including a statement attesting to the project's commitment to meet the permission's biosecurity requirements.
-
Outline the roles and responsibilities of key project personnel and key contacts, including:
- ensuring the BMP is current and followed during the activity by all involved persons
- delivery of biosecurity awareness information and material for project personnel (e.g. induction training, toolbox talk and pre-start meetings)
- development of a communications plan to define procedures for managing and reporting biosecurity issues to relevant authorities (during business hours contact QPWS on (07) 3199 7514 or parkaccess@qld.gov.au).
-
Where necessary, detail terms used in the BMP.
-
Provide a list of associated documents and checklists or templates used in developing the BMP.
These can be used for future reviews of the BMP.
-
Describe the training and procedures used to ensure that all personnel understand the importance of biosecurity and their responsibilities:
- biosecurity awareness trainers
- key messages to deliver
- delivery methods (e.g. inductions, toolbox/start-up meetings) and who will be trained
- training frequency
- on-going initiatives to maintain biosecurity awareness (e.g. signage, BMP periodic review)
- training records.
-
Provide a description of:
- significant environmental values of the island national park to protect – these can be general or specific values unique to an island. For example, do threatened species inhabit the island?
- research national park information on the Find a park website
- request a free species list specific to an island national park
- current level of visitation to the island—uninhabited with no regular visitation; uninhabited with regular visitation (e.g. accessible from mainland and popular with recreational users/campers); inhabited with regular passenger/vehicle ferry. Would the proposed activity increase biosecurity risks?
- key invasive pests (general or specific) that may be associated with the movement of goods and people. Consider the transport pathways and how invasive species can be moved to islands
- cargo and equipment types (provide lists or images)
- will equipment be new or used?
- where was the equipment used previously?
- what is the risk that the equipment/cargo has picked up pest 'hitch-hikers'?
- significant environmental values of the island national park to protect – these can be general or specific values unique to an island. For example, do threatened species inhabit the island?
-
Detail the mainland pre-departure and on arrival procedures and checklists used to determine how biosecurity risks with equipment or people can be reduced.
Pre-departure checks:
- inspection procedure including timing (e.g. morning of departure, evening before), location, person responsible, and documentation involved
- hygiene measures used to reduce the risk of contamination during storage on the mainland (e.g. limiting access to staging/storage area, covering items and storage off the ground on a clean and hard surface)
- containment measures (e.g. storage and containerisation of goods)
- pest treatments (preventative or responding to pest detection) and documentation required (e.g. fumigation treatment certificates)
- processes for removing contamination from equipment or washdown procedures (e.g. soil or organic matter).
On arrival:
- surveillance of designated laydown area, person responsible, timing, and documentation
- final containment measures in case pests are detected at the arrival laydown site or worksite.
Examples of methods to reduce your biosecurity risks
Pests Pre-departure actions On arrival actions Vehicles, machinery, equipment, mobile structures, shipping containers, tools and, sea cargo Soil contamination with seeds or fungi - Designated laydown areas inspected for pests
- Inspection
- Treatment and cleaning (e.g. washing, sweeping or vacuum, disinfecting if required)
Site surveillance Insects (e.g. ants, termites or borers) - Insecticide treatment ('knock-down' to kill insects that are present and residual treatment of goods if required)
- Use of heat-treated timber pallets where possible
Animals (e.g. rodents) - Rodent baiting program (if required)
- Storage in sealed containers or shrink wrapping
People movement, personal effects, food or plant materials Soil and organic matter
Insects (hitch-hike)
- Inspection of equipment
- Cleaning footwear and personal effects
- Use sealed containers (limit cardboard and timber packaging)
Limit access and movement on the island
Also consider...
- Read Be Pest Free! When you visit the Great Barrier Reef Islands (PDF, 574KB) for more on pests and preventing their spread.
- Learn more about caring for our parks and forests.
- Learn about Great Barrier Reef island biosecurity.
- Watch the Come clean, go clean: A vehicle clean-down guide for visitors video on YouTube.
- Find out more about biosecurity in Queensland.
- Read about creating biosecurity management plans.
- Find out about Queensland biosecurity zones.
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