{"id":"BILL-QLD-greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025","name":"Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446097,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:16.131Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nGreenhouse Gas Storage\nAmendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill\n2025\nContents\nPage\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n4 Amendment of s 455 (Reporting and record keeping requirements) 4\n5 Amendment of s 456 (Decommissioning of wells) . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n6 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\nPart 8 Transitional provisions for Greenhouse Gas Storage\nAmendment Act 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n464 Definitions for part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\n465 Purpose of part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6\nDivision 2 Modification of end of tenure report\n466 Modification of obligation to give former EPQ10 end of tenure\nreport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\nDivision 3 Modification of obligation to decommission—general\n467 Modification of obligation to decommission relevant GHG well\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7\n468 Modification of responsibility for relevant GHG well after\ndecommissioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\nDivision 4 Conversion of relevant GHG wells\n469 Modification of right of entry to facilitate decommissioning of\nrelevant GHG well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n470 Works carried out to convert relevant GHG well into water\nsupply bore taken to be water bore drilling activities . 11\n471 Particular development taken to be accepted development\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n472 Partial compliance with conversion requirements under s 467\n\nContents\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\nDivision 5 Transfer of converted water supply bores\n473 Application of division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n474 Transfer of water supply bore to landowner . . . . . . . 12\n475 Effect of transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n476 Notice of transfer to Water Act regulator . . . . . . . . . . 13\nDivision 6 Other matters relating to converted water supply bores\n477 Conversion report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n478 Restriction on transfers of converted water supply bores 14\n479 Water licence to take water for stock purposes . . . . . 15\nDivision 7 Other provisions\n480 Relevant GHG well taken to be operating plant despite\nending of former EPQ10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n481 No compensation payable by the State . . . . . . . . . . . 16\n482 Limited right of entry to comply with rehabilitation conditions\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\nDivision 8 Transitional regulation-making power\n483 Transitional regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009 for\nparticular purposes\n\n[s 1]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Greenhouse Gas Storage\nAmendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.\n3 Act amended\nThis Act amends the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009.\n4 Amendment of s 455 (Reporting and record keeping\nrequirements)\nSection 455(2)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nSee however section 466 for modifications to the\noperation of section 256 in relation to CTSCo and\nformer EPQ10.\n5 Amendment of s 456 (Decommissioning of wells)\nSection 456(2)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nSee however section 467 for further modifications to the\noperation of section 267, and this section, in relation to a\nGHG well in the area of EPQ10 immediately before it\nended.\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\nClause 7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\nClause 17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n6 Insertion of new ch 8, pt 8\nChapter 8—\ninsert—\nPart 8 Transitional provisions\nfor Greenhouse Gas\nStorage Amendment\nAct 2025\nDivision 1 Preliminary\n464 Definitions for part\nIn this part—\nartesian bore see the Water Act, schedule 4.\ncompleted, in relation to the conversion of a\nrelevant GHG well into a water supply bore,\nmeans all works to convert the well into the bore\nhave been fully carried out.\nconversion certificate see section 467(1)(d).\nCTSCo means Carbon Transport and Storage\nCorporation (CTSCo) Pty Limited ACN 143 012\n971.\ndecommissioning day, for a relevant GHG well,\nmeans the day before which the well must be\ndecommissioned from use under section\n267(1)(b), as modified by section 456(2)(c).\nformer EPQ10 means the GHG permit ended\nunder section 454.\nGAB Water Plan means the Water Plan (Great\nArtesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers)\n2017.\nlandowner means—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) for a relevant GHG well, the owner of the\nland on which the well is located; or\n(b) for a water supply bore, the owner of the\nland on which the bore is located.\nrelevant GHG well means a GHG well that,\nimmediately before former EPQ10 ended, was in\nthe area of former EPQ10.\nsubartesian bore see the Water Act, schedule 4.\ntransitional regulation see section 483(1).\nWater Act regulator means the chief executive of\nthe department in which the Water Act, chapter 2\nis administered.\nwater supply bore means an artesian bore, or a\nsubartesian bore, that is primarily used for the\nsupply of water.\n465 Purpose of part\nThe purpose of this part is—\n(a) to permit CTSCo to do both of the following\nin relation to a relevant GHG well as an\nalternative to decommissioning the well\nfrom use under section 267, as modified by\nsection 456—\n(i) convert the relevant GHG well into a\nwater supply bore;\n(ii) transfer the bore to the landowner for\nthe bore; and\n(b) to make provision for the way a relevant\nGHG well is to be plugged and abandoned\nfor section 267(3)(a).\nDivision 2 Modification of end of\ntenure report\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n466 Modification of obligation to give former\nEPQ10 end of tenure report\n(1) Section 256 applies in relation to CTSCo as if the\nsection required the former EPQ10 end of tenure\nreport to be given to the chief executive, in the\nrequired way, before the relevant day.\n(2) This section applies despite section 455(2).\n(3) In this section—\nformer EPQ10 end of tenure report means the\nreport, relating to former EPQ10, that was\nrequired to be given to the chief executive under\nsection 256.\nrelevant day means the day that is 2 months after\nthe latest of the following days—\n(a) the day that is 2 years after the day former\nEPQ10 ended under section 454;\n(b) if, whether before or after the\ncommencement, the Minister fixes a day for\n1 or more relevant GHG wells under section\n267(1)(b), as modified by section\n456(2)(c)—the latest fixed day.\nDivision 3 Modification of obligation\nto decommission—general\n467 Modification of obligation to decommission\nrelevant GHG well\n(1) Section 267(1) does not apply in relation to a\nrelevant GHG well if, before the\ndecommissioning day for the well, all of the\nfollowing requirements are complied with—\n(a) CTSCo gives the Minister a notice of\nintention to convert the well that—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(i) complies with the requirements\nprescribed by transitional regulation\nfor the notice; and\n(ii) without limiting subparagraph (i), is\naccompanied by a conversion plan for\nthe well;\n(b) the landowner for the well gives CTSCo a\nsigned statement in which the landowner—\n(i) consents to the conversion of the well\ninto a water supply bore under this\npart; and\n(ii) states the purpose for which the\nlandowner intends to take water using\nthe water supply bore; and\n(iii) agrees to take ownership of, and\nresponsibility for, the water supply\nbore, after the conversion is completed;\n(c) a licensed water bore driller converts the\nwell into a water supply bore in accordance\nwith the requirements prescribed by\ntransitional regulation for the conversion of\nthe well into a water supply bore;\n(d) a licensed water bore driller signs a\ndocument (a conversion certificate) stating\nthat conversion of the well into a water\nsupply bore has been completed in\naccordance with—\n(i) the conversion plan for the well given\nto the Minister under paragraph (a)(ii);\nand\n(ii) the requirements for the conversion of\nthe well mentioned in paragraph (c);\n(e) within 10 business days after the day the\nconversion certificate is signed, CTSCo\ngives the Minister a notice of completion, in\nrelation to the conversion of the well into a\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nwater supply bore, that complies with the\nrequirements prescribed by transitional\nregulation for the notice;\n(f) within 40 business days after the day the\nconversion certificate is signed, CTSCo\ntransfers the water supply bore, under\ndivision 5, to the landowner for the water\nsupply bore.\n(2) If section 267(1) applies to a relevant GHG well\nthat is not a decommissioned GHG well, section\n267(3)(a) applies in relation to the well—\n(a) as if the paragraph required CTSCo to plug\nand abandon the well in the way prescribed\nby transitional regulation; and\n(b) whether or not works to plug and abandon\nthe well started before the commencement.\n(3) This section applies despite section 456(2).\n(4) In this section—\nconversion plan, for a relevant GHG well, means\na plan, approved and signed by a licensed water\nbore driller, showing how the well will be\nconverted into a water supply bore in accordance\nwith the water bore construction codes.\ndecommissioned GHG well means a relevant\nGHG well that, before the commencement, was\ndecommissioned from use under section 267(3).\nlicensed water bore driller means an individual\nwho holds a class 3 water bore driller’s licence\nunder the Water Act.\nNote—\nFor the classes of a water bore driller’s licence, see the\nWater Regulation 2016, section 122.\nQueensland Government website means a\nwebsite with a URL that contains ‘qld.gov.au’,\nother than the website of a local government.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nwater bore construction codes means both of the\nfollowing documents published on a Queensland\nGovernment website—\n(a) the document called ‘Minimum construction\nrequirements for water bores in Australia’;\n(b) the document called ‘Minimum standards\nfor the construction and reconditioning of\nwater bores that intersect the sediments of\nartesian basins in Queensland’.\n468 Modification of responsibility for relevant GHG\nwell after decommissioning\n(1) This section applies if a relevant GHG well is\ndecommissioned from use under section 267(3),\nas modified by section 467(2), on or after the\ndecommissioning day for the well.\n(2) Despite section 269(1), section 269(3) and (4), as\nmodified by section 456(4), applies in relation to\nthe relevant GHG well.\nDivision 4 Conversion of relevant\nGHG wells\n469 Modification of right of entry to facilitate\ndecommissioning of relevant GHG well\nSection 459 applies in relation to CTSCo as if a\nreference to decommissioning for EPQ10 in that\nsection included a reference to—\n(a) conversion of a relevant GHG well into a\nwater supply bore under this part; or\n(b) plugging and abandoning the well under\nsection 267(3)(a), as modified by section\n467(2).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n470 Works carried out to convert relevant GHG\nwell into water supply bore taken to be water\nbore drilling activities\nTo remove any doubt, it is declared that works\ncarried out to convert a relevant GHG well into a\nwater supply bore under this part are water bore\ndrilling activities under the Water Act.\n471 Particular development taken to be accepted\ndevelopment\n(1) This section applies in relation to the conversion\nof a relevant GHG well into a water supply bore\nunder this part if—\n(a) the conversion involves development; and\n(b) the development would, other than for\nsubsection (2), be prohibited development\nor assessable development under the\nPlanning Act 2016.\n(2) The development is taken to be accepted\ndevelopment for the Planning Act 2016.\n(3) In this section—\ndevelopment see the Planning Act 2016, schedule\n2.\n472 Partial compliance with conversion\nrequirements under s 467\n(1) This section applies in relation to a relevant GHG\nwell if—\n(a) CTSCo gives the Minister a notice of\nintention to convert the well under section\n467(1)(a); and\n(b) immediately before the decommissioning\nday for the well—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(i) a requirement under section 467(1)(b)\nto (f) has not been complied with in\nrelation to the well; and\n(ii) the well has not been decommissioned\nfrom use under section 267, as\nmodified by sections 456 and 467(2).\n(2) Section 267, as modified by sections 456 and\n467(2), continues to apply in relation to the\nrelevant GHG well despite anything done to\ncomply with a requirement under section\n467(1)(b) to (f).\nDivision 5 Transfer of converted\nwater supply bores\n473 Application of division\nThis division applies if, before the\ndecommissioning day for a relevant GHG well,\nthe requirements stated in section 467(1)(a) to (e)\nhave been complied with in relation to the\nconversion of the well into a water supply bore.\n474 Transfer of water supply bore to landowner\nFor section 467(1)(f), CTSCo may transfer the\nwater supply bore to the landowner for the bore by\ngiving the chief executive a notice of transfer that\ncomplies with the requirements prescribed by\ntransitional regulation for the notice.\nNote—\nSee also section 478.\n475 Effect of transfer\n(1) If the water supply bore is transferred to the\nlandowner for the bore under section 474—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) ownership of all infrastructure and\nequipment forming part of the bore is\ntransferred to the landowner; and\n(b) the bore, including all infrastructure and\nequipment forming part of the bore, is no\nlonger a GHG well for the purposes of this\nAct; and\n(c) the landowner assumes responsibility for the\nbore, including all infrastructure and\nequipment forming part of the bore, for the\npurposes of any Act or law applying to the\nbore, infrastructure or equipment.\n(2) Subsection (1)(b) applies despite schedule 2,\ndefinition GHG well.\n(3) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the\ntransfer of the water supply bore to the landowner\ndoes not of itself authorise the landowner to use\nthe bore to take or interfere with water.\nNotes—\n1 See section 479 in relation to the grant of a water\nlicence to the landowner to take water for stock\npurposes using the water supply bore.\n2 See also the GAB Water Plan, part 4, division 3 in\nrelation to taking or interfering with water in the\nplan area for the GAB Water Plan.\n476 Notice of transfer to Water Act regulator\n(1) If the chief executive is given a notice of transfer\nrelating to the water supply bore under section\n474, the chief executive must, within 30 business\ndays of receiving the notice, give a copy of the\nnotice to the Water Act regulator.\n(2) A failure to comply with subsection (1) does not\ninvalidate or otherwise affect the transfer to which\nthe notice relates.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nDivision 6 Other matters relating to\nconverted water supply\nbores\n477 Conversion report\n(1) Within 60 business days after the day a\nconversion certificate, relating to the conversion\nof a relevant GHG well into a water supply bore,\nis signed, CTSCo must give the chief executive a\nconversion report that complies with the\nrequirements prescribed by transitional regulation\nfor the report.\nMaximum penalty—100 penalty units.\n(2) Within 30 business days of receiving the report,\nthe chief executive must give a copy of the report\nto the Water Act regulator.\n(3) A failure to comply with subsection (1) or (2)\ndoes not invalidate or otherwise affect the transfer\nof the water supply bore to which the conversion\nreport relates.\n478 Restriction on transfers of converted water\nsupply bores\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) the requirements stated in section 467(1)(a)\nto (e) have been complied with in relation to\nthe conversion of a relevant GHG well into\na water supply bore; and\n(b) CTSCo purports to transfer the bore other\nthan under section 474.\n(2) The purported transfer is of no effect.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nNote—\nSee section 472 for the continuing application of section\n267 to the relevant GHG well if the requirements under\nsection 467(1)(b) to (f) are partially complied with.\n479 Water licence to take water for stock purposes\n(1) This section applies if—\n(a) the chief executive gives the Water Act\nregulator a copy of a notice of transfer\nrelating to a water supply bore under section\n476; and\n(b) the Water Act regulator considers the\nlandowner for the water supply bore will\ntake water for stock purposes using the bore.\n(2) The Water Act regulator must, within 60 business\ndays of receiving the copy of the notice of\ntransfer, grant a water licence, with or without\nconditions, to the landowner to take water for\nstock purposes using the bore.\n(3) The water licence must not allow the landowner\nto take water using the water supply bore unless\nthe bore has a watertight delivery system within\nthe meaning of the GAB Water Plan, section\n29(2).\nNote—\nSee also the GAB Water Plan, sections 26(2)(a) and\n31(1).\n(4) For the GAB Water Plan, section 31(2), the water\nsupply bore is taken to have been drilled after the\ncommencement of the GAB Water Plan.\n(5) The GAB Water Plan, part 4, division 5 does not\napply in relation to the granting of the water\nlicence.\n(6) For the Water Act, section 116(2), the process\nmentioned in subsections (1) to (5) is taken to be\nstated in the GAB Water Plan.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nNote—\nSee the Water Act, section 116(2) for when the Water\nAct regulator may grant a water licence without the\nneed for an application to be made under section 107 of\nthat Act.\n(7) In this section—\nstock purposes see the Water Act, schedule 4.\nwater licence see the Water Act, schedule 4.\nDivision 7 Other provisions\n480 Relevant GHG well taken to be operating plant\ndespite ending of former EPQ10\nDespite the ending of former EPQ10 under\nsection 454, a relevant GHG well is taken to be\noperating plant, under the P&G Act, section\n670(2)(h), until—\n(a) the well is decommissioned from use under\nsection 267(3), as modified by section\n467(2); or\n(b) the conversion of the well into a water\nsupply bore under this part is completed and\nsection 475(1)(b) applies in relation to the\nbore.\n481 No compensation payable by the State\n(1) No compensation is payable by the State to any\nperson because of the enactment or operation of\nthis part or anything done to carry out or give\neffect to this part.\n(2) This section applies despite any other Act or law.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n482 Limited right of entry to comply with\nrehabilitation conditions\n(1) This section applies if a relevant GHG well has\nbeen—\n(a) decommissioned; and\n(b) transferred to the State under section 269(3),\nas modified by section 456(4)(c).\n(2) The decommissioning and transfer does not affect\nthe application of the rehabilitation conditions to\nCTSCo.\n(3) CTSCo may, after the decommissioning and\ntransfer, enter the following land to the extent it is\nnecessary to comply with the rehabilitation\nconditions—\n(a) land on which the decommissioned relevant\nGHG well is located;\n(b) other land it is reasonably necessary to cross\nfor access to land mentioned in paragraph\n(a).\n(4) In this section—\ndecommissioned, in relation to a relevant GHG\nwell, means—\n(a) decommissioned from use under section\n267(3), as it applied immediately before the\ncommencement; or\n(b) decommissioned from use under section\n267(3), as modified by section 467(2).\nrehabilitation conditions means conditions 58 to\n60 of the environmental authority, with the\nenvironmental authority number\n‘EPPG00646913’, ended under the\nEnvironmental Protection Act, section 819(1)(a).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\n[s 6]\nGreenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nDivision 8 Transitional\nregulation-making power\n483 Transitional regulation-making power\n(1) A regulation (a transitional regulation) may\nmake provision about the following matters—\n(a) matters that may be prescribed by\ntransitional regulation under another\nprovision of this part;\n(b) another matter for which—\n(i) it is necessary to make provision to\nallow or facilitate the doing of anything\nto achieve the operation of this part;\nand\n(ii) this part does not provide or\nsufficiently provide.\n(2) A transitional regulation may have retrospective\noperation to a day not earlier than the day this\nsection commences.\n(3) A transitional regulation must declare it is a\ntransitional regulation.\n(4) This division and any transitional regulation\nexpire on 18 June 2029.\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"This Bill has received royal assent in Queensland and will commence on a day fixed by proclamation.","complexity_score":7,"likely_questions":["What happens if a landowner does not consent to conversion? Will CTSCo still be required to decommission the well?","Who bears the cost if the converted bore fails or requires maintenance after transfer to the landowner?","How will the transitional regulation specify the conversion plan requirements and what is the process for approval?","Does the landowner need to apply for a separate water licence beyond the stock purposes licence mentioned in section 479?","What are the rehabilitation conditions 58 to 60 of the environmental authority referred to in section 482, and do they apply after transfer?","Can CTSCo be held liable for contamination or well integrity issues discovered after conversion and transfer?","What is the exact date of commencement? The Act says 'a day to be fixed by proclamation'."],"complexity_factors":["Contains numerous interconnected transitional provisions that modify standard obligations for one specific entity (CTSCo) and a limited set of wells.","References multiple external Acts (Water Act, Planning Act, Environmental Protection Act) and water bore construction codes, requiring cross-referencing.","Uses defined terms and timeframes (e.g., decommissioning day, 10 business days, 40 business days) that affect the operation of the alternative pathway.","Includes a transitional regulation-making power that can have retrospective effect, leaving key implementation details to be determined later.","Penalty of 100 penalty units for non-compliance with conversion reporting adds a compliance risk factor.","No compensation clause (section 481) overrides other laws, which may raise legal questions for affected parties."],"plain_english_summary":"This Bill adds a temporary, area‑specific pathway allowing Carbon Transport and Storage Corporation (CTSCo) to convert certain former EPQ10 greenhouse‑gas wells into licensed water supply bores and transfer them to adjoining landowners instead of decommissioning them, provided strict notice, conversion, certification and transfer steps are met. It shifts ongoing liability and costs to landowners (who must obtain water licences and meet Water Act rules), reduces State exposure, and leaves detailed procedures to transitional regulation (no State compensation)."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The amendment expands the Act's operational scope beyond pure regulation of greenhouse gas storage and decommissioning. It creates a statutory conversion pathway that treats former GHG wells as potential water supply bores, expressly interacts with the Water Act, Planning Act and the GAB Water Plan, transfers physical infrastructure to private landowners, and imposes new water licensing and reporting consequences. Those changes introduce water resource and land‑ownership outcomes into what was originally a GHG storage/decommissioning regime, and rely on transitional regulations to prescribe detailed technical requirements (see s465–467, s470–479, s483)."},"complexity_factors":["New multi‑division Part 8 with 20+ separate sections and multiple cross references (s464–s483).","Numerous defined terms specific to the transitional part (e.g. relevant GHG well, decommissioning day, conversion plan, conversion certificate, CTSCo) (s464, s467).","Conditional pathway with sequential preconditions: notice of intention + landowner consent + licensed driller conversion + conversion certificate + notice of completion + timed transfer (s467(1)(a)–(f)).","Multiple cross‑references to other Acts and instruments: Water Act (drilling, licences), Planning Act (accepted development), GAB Water Plan, Petroleum & Gas Act (operating plant) (s470, s471, s479, s480).","Delegation of many technical requirements to transitional regulations (s467(1)(a)(i), (c); s483), increasing reliance on subordinate legislation.","Tight and staggered statutory timeframes and business‑day windows (s466, s467, s474–477), including retroactivity limits for transitional regulations (s483(2)).","Special rules on transfer effect and restriction of transfers (s475(1)–(3), s478).","Administrative duties across multiple agencies (Minister, chief executive, Water Act regulator) and mandatory inter‑agency notices (s476, s477).","Penalty exposure for conversion report non‑compliance (100 penalty units) and a broad no‑compensation clause (s477, s481).","Temporary/regulatory sunset on transitional regulation powers (expiry date 18 June 2029) (s483(4))."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this amendment does (mechanics first)\n\n- Adds a new Part 8 of Chapter 8 with transitional rules (Divisions 1–8) that apply to greenhouse gas (GHG) wells that were in the area of a particular expired permit called \"former EPQ10\" (defined as \"relevant GHG wells\") (see definitions, s464).\n\n- Gives Carbon Transport and Storage Corporation (CTSCo) a statutory alternative to the usual obligation to decommission those relevant GHG wells under section 267 of the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009: instead of full decommissioning, CTSCo may convert a well into a water supply bore and transfer ownership of that bore to the landowner, provided a set of procedural and technical steps are completed before a specified deadline (the \"decommissioning day\") (s465–467, especially s467(1)).\n\n- Prescribes the sequence and documentary proof required for a valid conversion: a notice of intention and conversion plan to the Minister; the landowner's signed consent and statement of intended water use; conversion work performed by a licensed water bore driller in accordance with prescribed requirements; a conversion certificate signed by that driller; a notice of completion to the Minister; and transfer of the bore to the landowner within fixed time windows (s467(1)(a)–(f)).\n\n- Confirms that conversion work counts as water bore drilling activities under the Water Act (s470), and that such conversion development is treated as \"accepted development\" for planning purposes (s471), avoiding usual prohibited/assessable development processes under the Planning Act 2016 for this specific conversion.\n\n- Sets out the legal effect of transfer: when CTSCo gives the chief executive the prescribed notice of transfer, ownership of the bore infrastructure passes to the landowner; the bore ceases to be a GHG well under the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act; and the landowner assumes responsibility for the bore under any applicable laws (s474–475). The transfer does not by itself authorise taking water — a separate water licence/approval process (handled by the Water Act regulator) controls lawful water use (s475(3), s476, s479).\n\n- Requires CTSCo to provide a conversion report after conversion, and requires the chief executive to give that report to the Water Act regulator; non‑compliance by CTSCo attracts a monetary penalty (s477).\n\n- Prevents CTSCo from transferring a converted water supply bore to anyone other than the landowner once the conversion preconditions are satisfied (s478).\n\n- Provides that the Water Act regulator must grant a water licence to the landowner to take water for stock purposes within prescribed time frames if the regulator considers the bore will be used for stock, subject to conditions and an onsite watertight delivery system requirement (s479).\n\n- Keeps a relevant GHG well classified as \"operating plant\" for petroleum & gas statutory purposes until it is either decommissioned or converted and transferred (s480).\n\n- Says the State will not pay compensation to anyone because of this part or actions to give effect to it (s481).\n\n- Creates transitional regulation‑making power for detailed prescription and allows limited retrospective transitional regulations up to a fixed expiry date (s483).\n\nWhat the amendment says is the purpose (official claim)\n\n- The Act expressly states its purpose: to permit CTSCo to either (a) convert relevant GHG wells into water supply bores and transfer those bores to landowners as an alternative to statutory decommissioning, and (b) make provision for how a relevant GHG well is to be plugged and abandoned for the purposes of section 267(3)(a) (s465).\n\nTesting the official purpose against practical mechanics, costs, incentives and trade-offs\n\n- Cost‑bearing and who pays: CTSCo is required to carry out (or cause to be carried out) the conversion works and administrative steps (notices, conversion certificates, reports) (s467, s477). Once the transfer is effected, ownership and responsibility for ongoing bore maintenance and compliance shifts to the landowner (s475). The State disclaims any obligation to pay compensation related to these changes (s481). So CTSCo initially bears conversion and paperwork costs; landowners take on longer‑term ownership costs and liabilities.\n\n- Decision makers and discretion: CTSCo decides whether to propose conversion by giving the notice of intention (s467(1)(a)). The Minister is the recipient of notices; the Minister can fix dates relevant to the deadline for conversion (see s466(3)(b) and s466(2)–(3) on timing). The Water Act regulator (chief executive administering the Water Act) decides water licensing and must grant a stock‑water licence within time limits if the regulator considers the landowner will use the bore for stock (s479). Transitional regulations are available to prescribe technical and documentary requirements, so much operational detail will be set by regulation (s483).\n\n- Compliance burden and implementation risk: the conversion pathway contains multiple sequential steps with tight time windows (e.g. conversion certificate triggers a 10‑business‑day notice of completion and a 40‑business‑day transfer deadline; conversion report due within 60 business days) and criminal/penalty exposure for late or missing reports (s467(1)(e)–(f), s477). Many technical requirements are deferred to \"transitional regulation\" (s467(1)(a)(i), (c); s483), meaning rules may be set or adjusted by subordinate instrument rather than fully in the Act. That creates operational reliance on regulators and potential uncertainty for CTSCo and landowners until regulations are finalised.\n\n- Interaction with other regulatory regimes and authorities: the amendment expressly interacts with the Water Act (declaring conversion works to be water bore drilling activities, s470), the Planning Act (conversion treated as accepted development, s471), the GAB Water Plan (special licence and watertight delivery system conditions, s479(3)–(6)), and the Petroleum & Gas Act operating plant classification (s480). That spreads decision points across different agencies (environmental, water, planning, petroleum & gas).\n\n- Effects on private enterprise and markets:\n  - Water bore drilling sector: conversion work must be done by licensed water bore drillers (class 3) and conversion plans must be approved and signed by such drillers (s467(1)(c), (d)); this creates immediate demand for licensed drillers for conversion jobs.\n  - CTSCo and decommissioning market: the amendment provides CTSCo an alternative to standard decommissioning obligations (s467), which may reduce some decommissioning costs but requires CTSCo to perform conversion tasks and hand over infrastructure. If conversion is cheaper than full decommissioning, CTSCo gains cost savings; if more expensive or administratively burdensome, CTSCo bears extra cost.\n  - Landowners: may obtain physical infrastructure (bores and equipment) without purchase but must accept responsibility and comply with water regulation to use them; licence to take water is not automatic and includes technical conditions (s475(3), s479).\n\n- Allocation of risk and liability: on transfer, the landowner becomes responsible for the bore under all applicable laws (s475(1)(c)). The Act retains rehabilitation condition obligations on CTSCo after decommissioning/transfer in a narrow way, allowing limited entry rights to CTSCo where necessary to comply with rehabilitation conditions (s482).\n\n- Potential substitution effects and safeguards: conversion is explicitly an alternative only if all listed steps are completed before the decommissioning day (s467(1)). If the process is only partly completed by the deadline, the default decommissioning rules continue to apply (s472). That reduces risk of leaving wells in an ambiguous legal state but puts pressure on meeting procedural deadlines.\n\n- Concentrated benefits and diffuse costs: beneficiaries include landowners who receive infrastructure and licensed drillers who get conversion contracts. Costs and regulatory obligations diffuse to CTSCo (conversion and reporting costs), landowners (ongoing responsibility), and public agencies that must process notices and licences. The State also insulates itself from compensation liability (s481), which concentrates financial risk on private parties.\n\nKey implementation points to watch (concrete, mechanical)\n\n- Many technical and documentary requirements are left to transitional regulations (s483). The content and timing of those regulations will materially affect how easy or onerous conversion is.\n- The Minister and Water Act regulator have key roles: the Minister receives conversion notices and can fix related dates (s466, s467); the Water Act regulator handles licence grants (s479).\n- Time limits matter: the \"decommissioning day\" and the various business‑day windows are the operational linchpins (s466, s467).\n- Transfer does not by itself permit water extraction; a separate water licensing step is required and conditioned (s475(3), s479).\n\nPrimary sections to consult in the Bill: s465 (purpose), s466 (modified reporting deadline), s467 (conversion requirements), s470–475 (conversion as water bore and transfer mechanics), s477–479 (reporting, transfer limits and water licensing), s481 (no compensation), s483 (transitional regulations)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/greenhouse-gas-storage-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}