A legal expert says the Queensland government could face hefty law suits after it forced a coastal council to remove references to sea level rises from its draft planning scheme.
Environmental lawyer Justine Bell says a directive from Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jeff Seeney to the Moreton Bay Regional Council could expose the state to large damages claims.
She says it appears to order the local authority to remove any consideration of climate change risks, including how they might affect future developments.
Mr Seeney says he wants to protect the rights of existing property owners, but the government does want planning schemes to address risks to future developments.
But Dr Bell says Mr Seeney's letter won't safeguard future developments against changing sea levels.
"As I see it we are going to have new developments going ahead under a planning scheme that does not consider the overwhelming international consensus about sea level rise," she told ABC radio on Wednesday.
"(That) means we're going to have substantial new developments in areas that are going to be subject to these threats in the future.
"We are dealing with some uncertainty but it is beyond doubt that we are going to experience some degree of sea level rise by 2100, so that is something that needs to be factored into planning decisions."
She said councils would likely be protected if they followed the state government directive, but that would expose the state itself to legal action.
The Local Government Association of Queensland has told AAP it has legal advice that councils will be protected if they follow Mr Seeney's directive.
It has written to Mr Seeney seeking advice about whether the directive will be extended to all coastal councils.
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