Government Explosives Reserves

The Queensland Explosives Act 1999 established a number of government reserves. These are explosives storage areas under government control where quality of explosives and their distribution is closely monitored.

Under the legislation, the Chief Inspector of Explosives, a statutory position charged with administration of the Explosives Act, became the Officer in Charge of Government Magazines.

Benefits of explosives reserves

The Queensland Explosives Act 1999 recognises the many advantages that government magazines provide, including:

• centralised secured storage depots for large quantities of explosives used by mining and construction industries, both large and small
• ideal inspection and testing facilities to control the safety of products supplied to the industry and the general public
• ideal monitoring capabilities over all aspects of distribution, handling and use ensuring only those operations of acceptable standards are permitted within the community confines
• the necessary facilities to enable effective response to critical situations such as impounded explosives, deteriorated explosives and court exhibits
• an independent service to all explosives manufacturers, suppliers and users, both large and small, ensuring the availability of competitive supplies of appropriate explosives for the project at hand
• a concentrating of explosives facilities adjacent to the government magazines, thus minimising the spread of explosives' risk to the community.

The above safety benefits have been realised through the operation of four government magazines in Queensland.

Reserves fees for services

• Information bulletin 63 (2009/10) (PDF, 81 kB) Explosives government magazines fees (09/10) for services provided; issued 25/06/2009
• Information bulletin 63 (2008/09) (PDF, 115kB) Explosives government magazines fees (08/09) for services provided; issued 05/06/2008