This week, the Queensland Government announced the update to State Code 23 for wind farms. We have been working with conservation groups throughout Queensland (particularly QCC and CAFNEC) to strengthen the renewable planning frameworks, and we welcome this progress. We will all continue to work hard for further reforms with the next Queensland Government to secure better outcomes for nature, communities and First Nations people. 

50km west of the Townsville CBD, behind the Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms, lies a sleeping beast that, if awoken, could spell disaster for Townsville locals, our environment and our water supply.

Decarbonising our energy industry is one of the most effective levers we have here in Australia to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the faster we do this, the better. This means we need a rapid rollout of renewable energy, and THIS means the construction and installation of a lot of energy infrastructure. So where will all of these materials ultimately end up?

For a safe climate, we need a future without fossil fuels. And soon.

So, what does North Queensland's energy future look like? What opportunities and challenges can we expect in the energy transition? How do we talk about these with our friends, family and decision-makers?

Most importantly, how can locals like us leverage this crucial moment in time to build a sustainable, equitable and affordable future for all North Queenslanders?

These were the questions we aimed to answer together at the Townsville Energy Champions Training workshop earlier this month.

NQCC welcomes today's announcement by the Queensland Government that Townsville has been selected as a Local Renewable Energy Zone. Minister for Energy and Clean Energy Jobs Mick de Brenni was in Townsville today to announce an investment of $40 million, helping to reduce emissions and electricity costs for households.

Gawara Baya Wind Farm Approval Should Not Set a Precedent

20 June 2024

NQCC responds to the Federal Government’s environmental approval of Windlab’s Gawara Baya Wind Farm (formerly known as the Upper Burdekin Wind Farm) in North Queensland.

Today the Queensland Conservation Council, alongside nine Queensland regional environmental and conservation groups, have united in support of a well-planned roll out of renewable energy.

The groups have put forward a five-point plan for getting the rollout of renewable energy right, pointing to the positive outcomes that the energy transformation can have for the environment, regional and First Nations communities if delivered well.

In late 2023, NQCC made a submission to the Draft Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Roadmap (read it here). On 26 March 2024, the refined Roadmap was released and is available here. 

Following a submission made in late 2023, NQCC was invited to present to Queensland's Transport and Resources Committee on the Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill 2023. Our Coordinator was one of just four representatives to speak at the Townsville hearing, and the only one providing a conservation perspective. We spoke in support of the Bill, and highlighted potential improvements (read our opening statement here). 

Prairie Wind Farm is part of the North Queensland Super Hub, located in the North Queensland Renewable Energy Zone in the Flinders Shire, on Yirendali Country.