From 1 June 2021, new or expanded commercial cropping and horticulture activities on five hectares or more that do not have a cropping history will require an environmental authority (permit) before the activity or any work takes place. A cropping history is when cropping or horticultural activities have been undertaken on the land for at least three out of the last 10 years (with at least one of the years being in the last five years).

Officers from the Office of the Great Barrier Reef are meeting with growers to explain the proposed regulations and receive feedback. If you would like to participate in the consultation you must RSVP as participant numbers need to be managed for COVID- 19 safety reasons. Please RSVP to OfficeoftheGBR@des.qld.gov.au.

The consultation sessions are:

• Mareeba League’s Club – 28 January 10am – 12pm
• Lakeland Community Centre – 29 January 9am – 11am
• South Johnstone Research Station (Innisfail) – 4 February 1pm – 3pm
• Queensland Women’s Association Hall, Tully – 5 February 10am – 12pm

The ABGC strongly encourages you to attend one of these sessions so that you can hear the government’s proposal and provide feedback about the potential impact on your plans for farming into the future. 

Find out more about the draft regulations here.