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Darling Downs Environment Council Welcomes Wind Farm Reforms, Calls for Stronger Protections for Environmental Areas
The Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) welcomes the Queensland Government’s decision to strengthen community consultation and protections for high-value agricultural land in wind farm approvals. These changes, effective from 3 February 2025, are a significant step toward ensuring that urgently needed renewable energy developments deliver real benefits for local communities and do not come at the expense of vital regional industries.
Under the new planning framework, all new wind farms will require impact assessments, mandatory community consultation, and clear commitments from developers to mitigate construction impacts and provide long-term community benefits. DDEC supports these reforms as they align with our 'Renewables Done Right' policy, which calls for responsible and transparent renewable energy development that respects the rights and needs of host communities.
“These reforms are a win for local communities and regional councils,” said Ahri Tallon, Coordinator of DDEC. “It’s essential that renewable energy projects are planned with genuine community engagement, clear benefits for impacted regions, and strong safeguards for high-quality agricultural land and areas of high biodiversity.”
However, DDEC urges the Queensland Government to extend similar protections to areas of high environmental value. While we support the move to prevent wind farms from significantly impacting prime farmland, we remain concerned that ecologically sensitive areas, including remnant forests and critical wildlife habitats, remain at risk.
“Protecting agricultural land is important, but we must apply the same level of care to our natural ecosystems,” Mr Tallon continued. “Queensland has incredible biodiversity that must not be sacrificed despite the urgency of the rollout of renewables. All energy and mining projects should be developed in locations that avoid both high-value farmland and high-value ecological areas.”
DDEC will continue advocating for a renewable energy transition that is truly sustainable—one that benefits communities, safeguards nature, and accelerates our path to net-zero emissions without unnecessary environmental harm. We urge the Queensland Government to build on these reforms by ensuring that all energy and mining projects are placed in the right locations and that developments meet the highest environmental standards.
Ahri Tallon
Coordinator, Darling Downs Environment Council
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