Land access agreements

Requirements

All visitors must comply with the general biosecurity obligation under the Biosecurity Act 2014 regardless of their rights to access the property.

For properties with a biosecurity management plan in place, individuals and companies must comply with the conditions of the biosecurity management plan if they do not have a legal right to access a property under an Act, or if compliance with the biosecurity management plan forms part of a contractual agreement.

Petroleum and gas

Petroleum and gas companies are required under Queensland law to comply with land access laws. This includes compliance with the Land Access Code, which provides best practice guidelines for communicating and negotiating with landholders and mandatory conditions about conduct when entering and carrying out authorised activities on private land.

Before carrying out advanced activities on private land, petroleum and gas companies must generally enter into a legally binding agreement with the landholder.

A guide to land access in Queensland (PDF, 1.6MB) assists landholders and resource understand Queensland’s land access laws and how they relate to the exploration and development of Queensland’s mineral and energy resources on private land.

For information on agreements between parties, industry obligations or dispute resolution, contact the Department of Resources or Coexistence Queensland.

Resource companies

Resource companies entering private land to carry out authorised activities, must comply with the land access code and follow procedures to gain access.

The land access code provides best practice guidelines for communicating and negotiating with property owners or managers and mandatory conditions about conduct when entering and carrying out authorised activities on private land.

A conduct and compensation, deferral or opt-out agreement must be in place and is a legally binding agreement with the landowner.

For enquiries or complaints about resource activities in Queensland, contact the Department of Resources.

Fossicking

Fossickers must obtain a fossicking licence and are required to get written consent from the landholder to access private land to carry out fossicking activities.

Fossickers must also follow rules and responsibilities while carrying out their activities. Landholders with concerns about fossickers should contact the Department of Resources.

Recreational users

Recreational users, visitors, and other members of the public are only permitted to access private properties at the invitation of the property owner or manager.

Recreational users must still comply with the general biosecurity obligation in addition to seeking permission to access private properties.