EnvA has made a detailed submission to the Queensland Government’s 2025 Land Release Review Report, which proposes streamlining the way land is opened up for resource projects.
While the Review talks about efficiency and transparency, we’re concerned the changes could actually reduce community consultation and weaken environmental protections.
What’s at stake?
- Communities, landholders, and Traditional Owners risk being left out of decision-making if “streamlined” processes mean fewer opportunities for input.
- Critical habitats are still being cleared at alarming rates — the latest SLATS report shows 332,000 ha of forests and woodlands cleared in just one year, including 6,600 ha for mining.
- New coal and gas projects are fundamentally at odds with Queensland’s climate and biodiversity commitments.
Our key recommendations
EnvA has called on the government to:
- Create a clear, accessible notification system so communities know when land is up for exploration.
- Introduce an extra stage of public consultation before exploration permits are granted.
- Make all land constraints transparent, including endangered species habitat, biodiversity corridors, prime farmland, and Great Barrier Reef catchments.
- Exclude new fossil fuel projects from priority land releases, and instead focus on resources that support the clean energy transition.
- Ensure a new land release “intelligence team” includes not just resource interests, but also scientific, legal, and human rights expertise.
Why this matters
Queensland is at a crossroads. Coal companies in Central Queensland are already collapsing, leaving behind workers, communities, and unrehabilitated mine sites. At the same time, climate science tells us clearly that expanding fossil fuels is incompatible with a safe future.
That’s why EnvA’s submission pushes for a land release framework that is transparent, fair, and climate-smart — one that protects people, biodiversity, and future industries, instead of locking us into the past.
Here is our submission to the Queensland Department of Resources
EnvA - CQ 