The government responded to landholder concerns by reducing the size of this development area by 94% - making the final State Development Area less than one-tenth the size of the area originally proposed, Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said.

“We have told resource proponents they can access just two corridors totalling 690km – one from the southern and one from the central end of the basin,” he said.

“This declaration delivers on our government’s commitment to properly plan in a coordinated way for the development of coal mines and associated infrastructure in the Galilee, while minimising potential impacts on land owners, regional communities and the environment.

“The State Development Area announced today covers 106,000 hectares and directly affects 74 landholders, far less than the 1.8 million hectares and 1400 landholders affected by the draft plan.”

Seeney said there would be further reductions to come.

“Currently the State Development Area is around 500m wide, however once more detailed rail line designs are finalised and approved by the Coordinator-General, the rail corridor will be reduced to about 60-100m wide,” he said.

“This State Development Area does not take away the rights of the 74 landholders within the corridors to directly negotiate with resource companies to minimise impacts on day-to-day management of livestock, placement of important infrastructure such as cattle yards, or the effective management of water flow.

“Resource companies will be subject to strict environmental conditions set by the Coordinator-General, which includes detailed flood conditioning.”

Seeney said an experienced landholder liaison manager had been appointed to help landholders with the declaration of the State Development Area.

“In a Queensland first, the Coordinator-General has appointed an experienced landholder liaison manager, Scott Taylor, to provide information and guidance to primary producers throughout this process,” he said.

“Mr Taylor has extensive experience in the property industry dealing with land-related matters within State Development Areas and infrastructure corridors. He will be an important resource for landholders.

“Landholders will now be able to put all their specific questions to Mr Taylor.”