As stated previously, developers of projects that are declared "significant projects" under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 are required to assess the effect of the project on the environment by the preparation of an environmental impact statement. All other developments, especially those involving major infrastructure, will also be required to address environmental impact, as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Integrated Planning Act 1997.
If construction and/or operation of the infrastructure may have a significant impact on designated matters of national environmental significance, the project may also be assessable under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Qld). These assessments comprise long and involved processes that may cause significant delay in project start-up and impose conditions that may critically alter the project specifications, (including the project route, in the case of linear infrastructure). The risks associated with these approvals are borne by the private party, subject to the qualifications below.
While government cannot intervene in environmental assessment processes once they are under way (except through agency participation), it may be in a position to coordinate federal and state approvals, and may agree to assume the risk of delays in the approvals process. This is made possible by the advent of federal-state bilateral agreements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, bringing even the federal assessment (but not approval) processes broadly within state government control.
In addition, where government has designated the project site or had critical input into the project route, but circumstances prevent the environmental impact statement/Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation process from being completed before the bidding process begins, government may agree to share some of the costs of the environmental impact statement process and outcomes. This may be undertaken through a project development agreement (for further information refer to the contract development and management supporting document).