Coexistence Queensland

This year's theme ‘All In’ reminds us that reconciliation is everyone's responsibility.

National Reconciliation Week encourages all Australians to recognise the histories, cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and consider the role we can each play in building respectful relationships and greater understanding.

There's still time to get involved – explore local events and activities in Reconciliation Australia’s event calendar.
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Please be advised our website will be temporarily offline from 9am on Monday 25 May while deployment of our new website is completed. The outage window is expected to last between 30 minutes and 2 hours.

During this time, we will continue to be available via phone and email as normal:

📞 1300 548 021
✉️ [email protected]

Thank you for your patience while we move into a bigger bowl! 🐟🫧

Biosecurity is a shared responsibility 🪰

Queensland’s agricultural sector – along with the resources, energy, and other industries that coexist across regional landscapes – all benefit from effective biosecurity management.

See the post below for more details, or have your say here: https://dpi.engagementhub.com.au/biosecurity-regulation-review

Public consultation is now open for Queensland's Biosecurity Regulation. 🚨📢

The Queensland Government is reviewing the Biosecurity Regulation 2016. The regulation is 10 years old, and we want to make sure it is still fit for purpose. This ‘sunset review’ will look for areas that need to be updated.

We want your input to make sure an updated regulation keeps protecting Queensland’s industries, communities and environment from biosecurity threats.

Read about the proposed replacement regulation, share your thoughts and help shape Queensland's future.

Have your say on our Engagement Hub 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x2bN5

The new Coexistence Queensland Board swapped suits and the boardroom for hi-vis and hard hats in the field during a recent visit to the Darling Downs.

Across two days, the Board gained (steel cap) boots-on-the-ground insights across gas, wind, and solar projects, meeting directly with the people planning, building, operating – and coexisting with – developments in the region.

The visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand how projects operate in a working landscape and to have open, practical conversations about coexistence, land use, regional change, and the opportunities and challenges regional and rural communities are navigating.

Getting out on the ground is an important part of our work. It helps ensure our understanding is informed not just by policy and discussion, but by real-world experience and direct conversations with those in the thick of it.

A sincere thank you to everyone who welcomed us and generously shared their time, knowledge, and perspectives throughout the visit.

Origin Energy Stanwell Vestas Western Downs Regional Council

One of the first Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) between a developer and local council was announced this week.

It provides some early practical insights into what agreed community benefits can look like in a regional and rural context:

• Long-term funding streams for local priorities (rather than one-off contributions)
• Investment in housing, infrastructure, skills and workforce development
• More transparent governance and accountability around how benefits are delivered
• A clearer role for local government in representing community expectations.

From a coexistence perspective, it highlights the complexity involved – particularly in balancing development, land use, community priorities, and in setting clear, shared expectations from the outset.

Western Downs Regional Council provides an early reference point for how CBAs can be being applied in practice across Queensland.

Read more:

Western Downs Community Benefit Agreements set benchmark On 24 April 2026, Council formalised its first Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with Goombi Holdings Pty Ltd as part of the proposed Goombi Wind Farm, cementing the region's reputation as a leader in community-focussed development and sustainable economic growth.

🚨 REGISTRATIONS CLOSE TODAY 🚨

Chinchilla and Surat primary producers are invited to come along to a free Bushfire Preparedness and Disaster Resilience Workshop.

These workshops offer tailored fire management planning, expert advice, and practical strategies to reduce bushfire risks and protect critical assets and livestock, equipping landholders with the tools and knowledge to prepare for the upcoming bushfire season.

SURAT
📍Surat New Royal Hotel
📅Tuesday 19 May, 8.30am – 2.30pm
🖱️Register: https://bit.ly/41S8e2q

CHINCHILLA
📍The Club Hotel, Chinchilla, QLD
📅Thursday 21 May, 8:30am – 2:30pm
🖱️Register: https://bit.ly/4sEMqSV

🌾 Calling producers in reef catchments 🪸

The Department of Primaries Industries (DPI) invites primary producers in Reef catchments involved in grazing, horticulture, bananas, grains and sugarcane to complete a survey to help DPI better understand current farming practices and the challenges facing the industry.

Producers can take part in a 30-minute one-on-one interview (online via video conference or by telephone) or complete a 15-minute online survey. Participation is voluntary and all information provided will remain confidential and anonymous and will be used only for the purpose of this research.

To take part, choose the relevant link:

In depth 30-minute interview: https://tavernersurveys.com.au/wix/p103155062328.aspx

Online survey: https://survey.confirmit.com.au/wix/p523678763608.aspx

Meaningful development starts with landholders at the core.

That’s how trust is built, and why we create space for these discussions.

If you’d like to be part of the Queensland Community Energy Forum, visit qldenergyforum.org.au

Can you believe it? Today’s Queensland Community Energy Forum in Proserpine marked the sixth in the series so far – each one shaped by the local community it’s held in.

One thing that’s remained constant is our landholder-focussed panel discussion, because development relies on landholders being at the centre of the conversation.

Our panel speakers Glenn Clarke of Canegrowers Proserpine, David Hill of AgForce Queensland, Michael Katz of RELA Australia and Stephanie McKechnie of Queensland Farmers' Federation shared their lived experience and how their organisations can support landholders with advocacy and information during the development process.

Biosecurity outbreaks don’t just affect agriculture – they affect services, businesses, and communities.

Biosecurity Queensland is hosting free Biosecurity Response Readiness workshops across Queensland to help local government, industry, and businesses prepare. Topics covered include:
🐜 Preparing your organisation
🌿 National biosecurity arrangements
🪰 How responses are managed
🔥 How outbreaks differ from floods and bushfires
🌾 Building local preparedness networks

Find more information in the post below, or contact [email protected] for more dates, locations, and to register your interest.

Biosecurity Queensland are hosting a series of Biosecurity Response Readiness Workshops to help industry prepare for a potential biosecurity outbreak 🦠

The industry-specific workshops are aimed at anyone from industry or business whose role will be affected by a biosecurity outbreak including:
🔹 Industry peak bodies
🔹 Producers, processors and manufacturers
🔹 Large local employers
🔹 Transport, logistics, retail and distribution
🔹 Regional and emerging leaders

The industry workshops will be held on the following dates:

📍 Mareeba - Thursday 16 April
📍 Blackall - Monday 29 June
📍 Bundaberg - Friday 12 June

To register 👉 https://okt.to/Dda6xF

Gas development proposed in your local area?🌾

Join Coexistence Queensland in Rolleston on Monday 23 March or Springsure on Tuesday 24 March for a free session focused on what to expect and what to consider before entering a land access agreement with a gas company.

📍Rolleston Memorial Hall, 3–6 pm
📍Springsure Bauhinia Memorial Hall, 3–6 pm

✍️Register now: https://bit.ly/4rAn6xS

Central Highlands Regional Council