Unlocking investment through coordinated approvals

In Queensland, the independent Coordinator-General has wide-ranging powers to drive projects forward and support common-user infrastructure. For example, if the Minister declares a resource project to be a prescribed project, it activates the Coordinator-General's powers under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (the Act). These powers ensure the planning and approval of projects is coordinated across government, positioning Queensland as a preferred destination for investment in mining, processing, refining, manufacturing and export of resources.

This coordinated approach is already accelerating progress on major resources projects, including Graphinex's Esmeralda Graphite Project and Harmony Gold's Eva Copper Mine. Both projects are progressing through government assessments, under the Coordinator-General’s leadership. Project approvals are being aligned across agencies with infrastructure needs addressed early, providing investors greater certainty and confidence.

New legislation is intended to further fast-track critical minerals and other significant projects for the state, helping unlock extraction, processing and export opportunities. It will strengthen the Coordinator-General's ability to facilitate critical minerals projects by reducing regulatory duplication, improving integration with subsequent approval processes, coordinating enabling infrastructure and providing new tools to resolve project-specific barriers.

The Act will be modernised to allow new powers and declarations to support delivery of the highest priority projects while responsibly managing impacts.