Quilpie shire council - a model in state quarry approvals

Quilpie Shire Council has recently received a glowing report card from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for its best practice model in assessing and permitting 28 roadbase quarries across its region. With the help of the experienced team from Redleaf Environmental, Quilpie Shire is now recognised as a State leader for its licensing program, which for the first time, offers a systematic and cost-effective means of addressing the permit requirements for multiple quarry sites.  One of the most exciting aspects of the process was the positive involvement of the local Aboriginal groups in identifying and protecting valuable cultural heritage in the landscape.

Through mutual trust and respect, the skilled cultural heritage facilitators from RedLeaf built upon and expanded the working relationships between the Traditional Owner groups of Boonthamurra, Mardigan, and Wongkamurra, and the Council. Quilpie Shire Council was able to demonstrate genuine care for the protection of the indigenous values and the assessment process identified and protected several significant sites, while still allowing for the quarry sites to be developed.

This innovative approach by RedLeaf and Quilpie Shire Council has been promoted within the Queensland State Government as best practice and is being used by DAFF as a model for other local governments across the state.