The Queensland Government has a range of readily available (and free!) online mapping which they use to determine the applicability of various State regulations to your property.  Before approaching an environmental consultant with your queries and cash, its best to be forewarned as to what mapping (and associated regulations) apply to your property.  Below is a list of maps to get you started, the web address to obtain them, and the regulation which may apply to your property if you have mapped values.

To order the maps below you will need to insert your Lot and Plan numbers for your property (i.e. Lot 1 RP1234).  If you don’t have them handy this easy-to-use website which can give you this information instantly using your street address.   Here: https://data.qld.gov.au/maps-geospatial/qld-globe

1. the Vegetation Management Act 1999.  Regional Ecosystem Map and High Value Regrowth Map, from here: https://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/forms/land-property/vegetation-map-request 

2.  the Koala State Planning Regulatory Provisions 2010.  This regulation applies to properties in south-east Queensland.  Get you map here: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/koalas/mapping/maprequestform.php.

3. The Coastal Protection State Planning Regulation (Coastal SPRP) and the Queensland Coastal Plan – State Policy for Coastal Management.  Find out if you are in the Coastal Management District and Coastal Zone.  There is also Coastal Hazards mapping which shows where sea level rise and tidal inundation is expected to impact within the next 100 years. http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/coastal/management/coastal_plan_maps.php

4. the Nature Conservation Act 1994.  Find out what threatened species have been previously recorded on and around your property.  You will need a Latitude and Longitude point on your property, then apply a radius (say 1-5km) from your point.https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/report-request/species-list/  Also check whether your property is within a ‘high risk area’ for threatened plant species under this Act here: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/protected-plants/map-request.php.

You can also find out at the Commonwealth level (under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or EPBC Act) what nationally recognised environmental features are within or around your property including nationally threatened plants and animals.  Use the interactive map to zoom to your property.  Place a point in the centre and generate a ‘report’ from the top right corner.  It will be emailed in approx 10 minutes.  http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/pmst/index.html

If you want to discuss the outcomes of your map searches, don’t hesitate to contact Queensland Ecologists for more information.