The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development certifies the Trigger Map for Strategic Cropping Land for use under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (RPI Act).

The SCL trigger map has been prepared from information provided by the Agricultural Land Audit and the Queensland Land Use Mapping Program.

The SCL trigger map excludes:

• areas that are category B (or remnant vegetation) on the regulated vegetation management map
• protected areas (i.e. national park, state forest, timber reserve and forest reserve)
• beaches and foreshores
• land designated as an urban area
• areas which contain existing open cut mines, and major infrastructure (e.g. power stations, airport, dams)
• land validated as non-SCL under the repealed Strategic Cropping Land Act 2011
• land above the slope criteria limits using the new higher resolution slope data.

Updates to the SCL trigger map

We will update the SCL trigger map periodically to reflect regional interests, development approvals and approved amendments.

Also consider...

• Read more technical information about how the SCL trigger map was developed.

The current version of the strategic cropping land (SCL) trigger map is available for download. This map results from information provided by the Agricultural Land Audit and the Queensland Land Use Mapping Program.

The trigger map is a starting point for identifying strategic cropping land. The map is based on soil, land and climate information, and indicates the location of land that is expected to be SCL in Queensland. On-ground assessment against the SCL criteria will confirm the extent of SCL at a property or project level.

Online property maps

An SCL trigger map for your property can be requested using this online form. The map is free and will be emailed to you as a PDF file. The map is A3 portrait and should be printed at this size to obtain the best resolution.

Use this form to select an area of interest and obtain a strategic cropping land (SCL) trigger map on the property.

You will need you lot on plan number before you start.

If you have any problems using this service, email VMEnquiries@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au.

The map will be emailed as a PDF, free of charge. The maps are A3 portrait and should be printed at this size to obtain the best resolution. The average file size is 300KB.

Find your lot on plan

Your lot on plan is listed on the property title or on local government rates notices.

You can use the Queensland Globe to locate your property and lot on plan number. Open the Queensland Globe, type the street address into the Search box in the top left hand side using the Address search option. This should zoom to your selected property and show the lot on plan details in the Location search results box.

Search instructions

• Only 1 lot on plan number can be entered for each map.
• The map will show cadastral lines in the vicinity.
• The lot on plan number needs to be entered without spaces.
• If the lot on plan number is invalid you will receive an email advising that the request for a map has failed.
• The lot on plan number is not case sensitive (i.e. 'a' is the same as 'A').

GeoResGlobe

To view the SCL trigger map through GeoResGlobe:

1. Click on Layers.
2. Click on Add layers +
3. Scroll down, then expand the Constrained lands layer by clicking the arrow on the right.
4. Check the box next to Strategic cropping land.

Statewide and zone maps

• Statewide trigger map (version 3.10) (PDF, 4.2MB)
• Strategic cropping land zone map (PDF, 724KB)
• Sub-zones for strategic cropping land mitigation rates (PDF, 1MB)

GIS data

GIS data is available free from the Queensland Spatial Catalogue (QSpatial). To find the datasets, enter strategic cropping land in the search box at the left of the page.

From the files displayed, select the ones you want to download by checking Download dataset, then select the format of the data and add your email address. Once you have completed the check-out prompts you will be emailed a link that will allow you to download the data.

Also consider...

• Learn about the regional planning interests process and activities.
• Read the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.

Where it can be demonstrated that the strategic cropping land (SCL) trigger map does not represent the actual extent of SCL in the particular area of interest, the map may be corrected. Corrections may be necessary either as a result of a regional interests development approval, or because a SCL map amendment application successfully demonstrates that the SCL area should be changed.

Changes to the map via a regional interests development approval

You do not need to apply to amend the strategic cropping land trigger map if you are applying for a regional interest development approval under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (RPI Act), and you are addressing required outcome 1 for the strategic cropping area (whether the proposed land meets the 8 SCL soil criteria). The amendment will occur, if appropriate, following the resolution of the development application.

Changes to the map via a map amendment

If you think the strategic cropping land (SCL) trigger map does not represent the actual extent of SCL in relation to the 8 SCL soil criteria set out in the Regional Planning Interests Regulation 2014 (RPI Regulation), or has obvious map errors in your particular area of interest, you can apply to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development to amend the map.

An obvious mapping error is an area for which an SCL criteria assessment is not required and is easily visible on an aerial or satellite image. Examples include existing open cut mines, power stations, major dams, quarries, licensed wastewater storages, holding ponds and airports. Generally, the disturbance for the 'obvious error' will have occurred or been authorised prior to the commencement of the repealed Strategic Cropping Land Act 2011 (SCL Act), or as a result of an approval under the SCL or RPI Acts.

How to apply for a direct map amendment

It is recommended that you contact the department before submitting your application to step through the requirements to ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible.

An application to amend the SCL trigger map should include:

• an application form: strategic cropping land trigger map—map amendment (PDF, 259KB)
• the applicable fee
• information on the location of the land where the amendment is proposed
• sufficient evidence that demonstrates that the land mapped as SCL on the SCL trigger map is not SCL
• the contact details, if known, of the owner(s) of the land subject to the application and the dates that the affected owners were provided information about the application
• response to any requests for additional information by the department in the time frame identified, unless otherwise approved.

Applicant's responsibility

It is the applicant's responsibility to provide a copy of the application to any owner(s) of the land subject to the application and allow an appropriate period of time, which is to be determined in consultation with the department, for the owner(s) to make a submission.

Notification is only required to owners who are not applicants.

As a minimum, we recommend a notification period of at least 20 business days for small, less complex applications. For large, complex applications a greater period of time which is reflective of the size and scale of the application may be necessary.

Your application must also contain an SCL map of the subject land, as well as supporting data and relevant attachments. The application form provides details of requirements.

Assessment process

Upon receipt of an application lodged by an interested party seeking to amend the SCL trigger map, the department will receipt the applicable fee and issue correspondence to the applicant acknowledging receipt of application.

Applications (assessment period) will be assessed as follows:

• Evidence put forward by the applicant in relation to the criteria contained in schedule 3 of the RPI Regulation will be evaluated.
• Additional information will be requested from the applicant, where required.
• Submissions made by owners of land that may be affected by the application will be considered.
• A draft amendment of the SCL trigger map will be prepared where a recommendation to amend the map is made.
• Decided amendments will be included in periodic amendments to the SCL trigger map, which are approved by the Chief Executive.
• The applicant and affected owners will be notified of the final decision.

Definitions

These definitions will assist you in understanding the purpose of this map amendment process.

Owner(s) of land: means any of the following that may be applicable to the land subject to the application:

• if freehold land, the registered owner of the land
• if the land is the subject of a lease, the lessee of the land
• if the land is a reserve, the trustee of the reserve
• if a person has occupation rights in relation to the land under a licence or permit, the licensee or permittee
• if the holder has a resource authority issued under a Resource Act.

Regulated vegetation management map: see the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Resource authority: see the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.

Resource Act: see the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.

Assessment period for applications to amend the SCL trigger map

There is no defined assessment period for considering an application to amend the SCL trigger map. The period of time taken to assess an application depends on:

• the complexity of the proposed amendment
• the completeness and quality of the information provided in the application
• the number of affected owners that have made a submission.

Application fees

These fees apply to applications to amend the SCL trigger map.

Note: We may refund all or part of the SCL map amendment fee where the application is withdrawn before substantial assessment has been carried out by us.

Also consider...

• Refer to the RPI Act Guideline 08/14: How to demonstrate that land in the strategic cropping area does not meet the criteria for strategic cropping land (PDF, 2.7MB).
• Learn about the regional planning interests process and activities.
• Read the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.