The role of the Coordinator-General was established in 1938 to encourage development and job opportunities by implementing large-scale projects. These projects encourage development and business investment, which in turn created ongoing jobs.

The Coordinator-General has successfully coordinated major developments throughout Queensland, such as the:

• Story Bridge
• Wivenhoe Dam
• South East Freeway
• Gateway Bridge
• South East Queensland Water Grid
• Clem Jones Tunnel.

The Coordinator-General plans, delivers and coordinates control of a program of works and planned developments by

• identifying areas within the state with the potential to be economic or industrial hubs and plans for sustainable growth by establishing State Development Areas and controlling their development schemes
• acquiring land to ensure critical projects and infrastructure facilities of significance to the state can be progressed and
• engaging individuals, government departments or government created organisations to carry out development functions and duties.

The Coordinator-General is responsible for deciding if the most important and complex private and public projects require whole-of-government management as 'significant projects'. If so, the Coordinator-General coordinates an environmental assessment process and is responsible for assessing the projects on behalf of the state government. Download a brochure ( 190 KB) about significant projects and the environmental impact statement process. The Coordinator-General also has a compliance and enforcement role.

The Coordinator-General operates under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and is a separate legal entity to government. The Coordinator-General can purchase land or assets and enter into contracts or agreements.

How the Coordinator-General manages significant projects

Once the Coordinator-General (CG) has declared a project a ‘significant project for which an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required’ the following applies:

• The first step is to develop the terms of reference (TOR) for the project. which specifies the matters for study in the EIS and covers the project’s potential environmental, social and economic impacts. Government agencies and the public are invited to make submissions on a draft TOR and all submissions are taken account before the TOR are finalised and sent to the proponent.
• The proponent must then address the TOR while preparing the EIS. The proponent’s completed EIS is submitted to the CG who invites public submissions on the EIS.
• After the EIS submission period, the proponent may be required to prepare a supplementary report to the EIS to address specific matters.
• The CG takes all submissions into account and prepares a CG’s evaluation report. This CG’s report will include an assessment and conclusion about the environmental effects of the project and any associated mitigation measures and conditions the proponent must follow before the project can proceed.

If the proponent wishes to change the project a change notification must be provided to the Coordinator-General who will complete a CG’s change report as an evaluation of the amended project.

View the status of Coordinator-General's projects.