The Queensland government says proposed, high impact earthworks in Great Barrier Reef catchment wetlands will now be assessed under planning and development laws.  Permits will now be required for earthworks that damage wetlands.

Affected activities will include draining, filling, levelling and the construction of channels and diversion banks in wetlands from Bundaberg to the Wet Tropics.

Environment minister Kate Jones says the change is part of wider efforts to protect water quality on the reef. "It complements the Bligh Government's landmark legislation last year to reduce the amount of damaging farm run-off flowing into reef waters," she said in a statement. "Both measures are about improving the Reef's water quality.  Wetlands are the Reef's natural kidneys and without them the reef would suffocate."

Up until now, major earthworks on freehold land did not require a development approval.   She said the Temporary State Planning Policy would take effect immediately ahead of a public consultation program to develop a permanent State Planning Policy to protect reef wetlands.

"The catchments of the Great Barrier Reef alone contain over 4,500 wetlands - while they make up less than one per cent of the land area, the reef relies on all of them to help filter its water so it has a fighting chance to survive in the long term," Ms Jones said.