An uneven playing field: protecting our water and farmland from inappropriate mining and gas

Organised by: Darling Downs Environment Council, Save our Darling Downs, Queensland Conservation Council, the Environmental Defenders Office and the Lock the Gate Alliance

The agricultural productivity of the Darling Downs is the economic and social lifeblood of our community - producing food and fibre for Australia and the world, and supporting thousands of jobs. However some of the most productive farms on the Darling Downs are under threat from coal seam gas mining and farmers are battling a myriad of complicated legislation, up against well-resourced multinational corporations to protect their land, water and livelihoods.

At the last election the incoming LNP government promised better protection for prime agricultural land on the Darling Downs and the precious Condamine Alluvium from coal seam gas mining. Six months on and this promise is yet to be fulfilled. The government has also made concerning statements that they may be looking to take away the rights of landholders and community members to object to large mining projects. Community objection rights are crucial for ensuring that local voices are heard when decisions are made about resource extraction near their homes and land.

This event will explore how current and proposed policies impact the rights of local residents to challenge projects that could detrimentally affect their land, water, and livelihoods.

Who Should Attend:

This event is particularly important for farmers, landholders, environmental advocates, and community members who are concerned about how resource projects—particularly CSG mining—are approved and whether their rights to object are being protected. It will also be valuable for anyone interested in understanding how local voices can shape the future of land and water management in their region.

We’ll discuss practical steps the community can take to ensure their objection rights are upheld, including engaging with policymakers, supporting frontline communities engaged in objecting to large projects, and advocating for changes in mining laws.