The Greentape Reduction Act simplified a range of environmental licensing procedures and was the most significant reform in more than a decade, he said. It made a substantial contribution to the Queensland government’s commitment of reducing red tape and regulation by 20%.
“The changes streamline application and approval processes under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, remove licence requirements for 20 environmentally relevant activities and introduce a new category of small-scale mining activity, which does not require an environmental authority,” Powell said.
“The reforms do not lower environmental standards, but rather better match the approval requirements with the actual level of environmental risk of particular activities.”
The new environmental approval process will ensure greater flexibility, with up to 12,000 Queensland businesses freed from the requirement to obtain an environmental approval.
Powell said businesses such as motor vehicle workshops, commercial printers, welders, steel workers and cabinet makers would be among those to benefit from the new laws.
"In total, the savings to businesses and government is approximately $20 million through reducing administrative costs, as well as the removal or lowering of application and annual fees,” he said.
“These reforms mean that Queensland small businesses can do what they do best, get on with growing the economy and employing Queenslanders.
“The government has also halved the fees for small sewage treatment plants easing the financial pressure on caravan parks and B&B’s.
In the resources sector, mining, petroleum and small exploration companies will also benefit, along with small scale opal and gemstone miners.
“My department will continue to oversee the environmental aspects of these activities and operators will still be required to comply with their general environmental duty and other rigorous environmental requirements under the Environmental Protection Act, Powell said.
“The department consulted widely with industry, the community and other government organisations throughout the development of these changes, so I am confident we have got the balance right.”
