About the EIS process Guide
Read this guide to understand EIS processes and when they may be required.
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Types of EIS
Many large resource projects are required to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) before an environmental authority can be issued.
If a project requires an EIS, you will be able to have your say on the EIS and the project’s potential environmental, economic and social impacts.
What is an EIS?
An EIS is a tool the government uses to assess:
- the current environment in the area of the project
- potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the project
- proponent proposals to avoid, minimise, mitigate and/or offset those potential impacts.
An EIS is also used to consider alternative ways to carry out the project in order to limit its impact.
There are two types of EIS assessment processes in Queensland:
- EIS under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act), administered by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
- EIS under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act), administered by the Coordinator-General, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
The EIS assessment process under the EP Act is used generally for mining or petroleum/gas projects. However there is the potential that a project may be declared a ‘coordinated project’ under the SDPWO Act.
For more information about EIS under the SDPWO Act view the coordinated projects section of the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning website for more information on this process.
EIS under the Environmental Protection Act 1994
A proponent will complete an EIS under the EP Act if they have volunteered to do so, or if the department decided that the project will be assessed by EIS.
The purpose of the EIS is to:
- assess potential adverse and beneficial impacts (environmental, economic and social)
- assess measures to minimise adverse environmental impacts (these can be direct, indirect and cumulative)
- consider feasible alternative ways to carry out the project
- help Commonwealth and state authorities to make informed decisions
- provide information to Commonwealth and state authorities, the proponent, and the public
- help the department to decide subsequent approvals
- meet any assessment requirements under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act; projects that are a controlled action under the EPBC Act and being assessed by EIS under the bilateral agreement.
The stages of an EIS under the EP Act are as follows:
- Submission of draft TOR
- Public notification of draft TOR
- Final TOR issued—EIS in preparation
- Public notification of EIS
- Proponent responds to submissions
- EIS assessment report
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Does my project need an EIS?
The environmental impact statement (EIS) process (PDF, 426KB) under the Environmental Protection 1994 Act (EP Act) is used to assess resource project proposals that have a relatively high level of environmental risk. These projects are often also important to the economic development in Queensland and typically involve high capital expenditure and the potential to generate substantial regional development and employment.
In deciding whether an application requires assessment by EIS, the department will carry out its functions and responsibilities in accordance with the EP Act. Resource projects considered to be a relatively high environmental risk will be required to submit an EIS, unless:
- the application relates to a ‘coordinated project’ under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWO Act), or
- an EIS under the EP Act has already been submitted to the department.
There are several ways that an EIS process under the EP Act may be applied to the assessment of a proposed resource activity:
- Applications for an Environmental Authority (EA):
- A site-specific application for an environmental authority for a resource activity under the EP Act is made and the department decides that assessment will be by EIS. This includes site-specific EA amendment applications for existing resource activities. Only site-specific applications can trigger the EIS process; standard or variation applications do not.
- An amendment application for an existing EA for a resource activity under the EP Act is made and the department decides that the proposed amendment is a major amendment.
- Prior to applying for an EA application:
- The project proponent submits an application for approval to voluntarily prepare an EIS and the department decides that an EIS is appropriate for the proposed project.
- The project proponent applies for a decision on whether an EIS would be required under the EP Act for an EA application for the project (prior to applying for an EA application). If the chief executive decides an EIS would not be required for an EA application, a proponent may also apply to voluntarily prepare an EIS.
What are the EIS criteria?
In making the decision if an EIS is required, the department will take into account:
- the standard criteria (pursuant Schedule 4, EP Act)
- EIS triggers
- the relative magnitude (scale and risk) of impacts (e.g. impacts on matters of state environmental significance, water quality and resources, environmentally sensitive areas (Category A, B and/or C), air, noise)
- the public interest
- uncertainty about possible impacts
- any significant issues with another Queensland Government/ Australian Government authority (e.g. matters of national environmental significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, agriculture, fisheries, transport)
- social and economic impacts
- cumulative impacts.
The department has published an EIS criteria guideline (PDF, 80KB) to help you establish whether your resource project is likely to require an EIS.
Other Queensland State EIS assessment processes
The EIS assessment process under the EP Act is used for mining or petroleum/gas projects. However your project may be declared a ‘coordinated project’ by the Coordinator-General or you may wish to consider this as an option. For more information about the Coordinator-General’s EIS assessment see the coordinated projects section of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning website.
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Terms of reference (TOR)
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act) the terms of reference (TOR) set out the content requirements of the environmental impact statement (EIS).
Proponents use the department’s approved form for a draft TOR (also referred to as the ‘generic terms of reference’) to develop a project-specific draft TOR.
The project-specific draft TOR is submitted to the department and is then released for public consultation. During the consultation period, the department seeks and considers relevant advice, comment or information from anyone to ensure that their interests are addressed in the TOR. You can find more information on how to have your say on an EIS. After the public consultation process the department issues a final TOR that the proponent must address in the preparation of their EIS.
What happens after the TOR Process?
The proponent has up to two years from receiving the final TOR to develop the EIS, but this can be extended (by agreement) once during that two year period.
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Developing an EIS
The department has prepared Environmental impact statement (EIS) technical information guidelines to support the generic terms of reference (TOR) and clarify the types of information and level of detail required in an EIS.
The guidance contains relevant technical material, arranged in subject headings that match the generic TOR.
The guidance topics are companion documents to the generic TOR and should be used by EIS project proponents to anticipate and plan the investigative work needed to successfully prepare an EIS under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).
EIS assessment process guideline
The department also prepared a guideline that provides information on the regulatory requirements of the EIS (PDF, 432KB) process and stages involved in the EIS assessment process under the EP Act.
Timing: The proponent has up to two years after receiving the final TOR to prepare the EIS, but this can be extended (by agreement) once and during the initial period.
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Pre-lodgement service
The department offers pre-lodgement meetings to all prospective applicants seeking direction and advice regarding environmental impact statement (EIS) applications and approvals pathways. These services can be initiated by completing and submitting the application form Application for pre-lodgement services for an environmental authority.
The department expects that persons considering a proposal that may require an EIS would engage early with their appropriate EIS consultants and work through aspects of their project with the department to clarify the needs of an EIS.
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Applicable fees
Fees apply to all projects involving an environmental impact statement (EIS) process under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, including an approved application for a voluntary EIS.
- Application fee to undertake a voluntary EIS
- Application fee for a decision on whether an EIS would be required for an environmental authority application
- Fee when submitting the draft terms of reference
- Fee when submitting an EIS
- EIS amendment fee during application process
(Note: an amendment of an EIS will be exempt from the fee if the amendment is being made by the proponent in response to submissions under section 56(2) of the EP Act).
These fees may be subject to an annual Consumer Price Index adjustment. To confirm the latest fees please contact the EIS team on 13QGOV (13 74 68) or email eis@des.qld.gov.au.
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Other resources for EIS
About the EIS process, 22 Aug 2025, [https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/environment/management/environmental/eis-process/about-the-eis-process]
This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/environment/management/environmental/eis-process/about-the-eis-process.