Happy New Year!

If January is anything to go by, we have a huge year ahead of us!

I'm sure you've seen the headlines this month - Queensland has been smashed with heatwaves and downpours, Trump has pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement (again) and Dutton is doubling down on support for nuclear.

The good news? We're taking action - and so can you!

The Queensland Government is developing a 20-year tourism plan for Queensland, and is seeking feedback on key focus areas to help identify and leverage tourism growth opportunities for the next two decades. 

Where and what are the top priorities for environmental protection and restoration in our region? How can we support a local renewable energy transition while protecting and enhancing our environmental values?

Those are the questions we want to answer - and we need your help!

If you've spent any time in North Queensland, there is a good chance you've come across some of our native flying foxes. The Townsville region is home to two species: Black Flying-foxes and Little Red Flying-foxes. They are long-range pollinators, critical to the health of our ecosystems.

In December 2024, the Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project (by QEM Ltd.) was declared a coordinated project by  Queensland’s Coordinator-General. So, what do we know about this North Queensland project?

On a brief visit to North Queensland, our new Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell (pictured, left) invited us to meet with him to discuss environmental priorities for the newly elected LNP State Government. Our meeting was also attended by Member for Townsville Adam Baillie (pictured, right). 

In our final story from the NQCC 50th Anniversary Project, Kenn Parker from Cardwell tells the story of how he and NQCC coordinator Carol Booth mounted the first successful action under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act (EPBC) to prevent a Cardwell farmer from using electrocution as a means of protecting his lychees from spectacled flying foxes. 

All Australian energy ministers released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy on Friday 6 December 2024, honouring a commitment to put First Nations front and centre of the country’s clean energy transition.

On Saturday 7th December 2024, NQCC held our famous annual Trivia Fundraiser. What a night!

Nine teams competed in the Belgian Gardens Senior Citizens Welfare Association hall for eternal glory. 

This month, the dust has been settling across the state following the October election. While we are reaching out to our new MPs, uncertainty remains around several policy pieces of importance to us, including our energy transition and the path to treaty.

The urgency for climate action has never been higher, with North Queensland getting an early taste of summer. This month, Mount Isa recorded 11 consecutive days over 40 degrees and 64 power poles were burnt beyond repair in recent bushfires in our region.