On Tuesday 25 March 2025, NQCC's Coordinator had the rare opportunity to attend Townsville Enterprise's fourth annual Green Energy Forum. With tickets aimed at industry representatives, not-for-profits like NQCC are generally priced out of such events, but a kind donor enabled our attendance. Below are our key takeaways from the day.

How do we get this project right? How do we reach the outcomes we want? Who needs to be in the room and how do we get them there? These were some of the questions we discussed at our Co-Design Workshop on 12 February.

Read our submission to the Queensland Government's consultation on the Draft Renewables Regulatory Framework.

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!

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). 

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.

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. 

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.

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.