29 Apr 2026
Agricultural industry bodies seek amendments to proposed legislative reform to maintain protections for Condamine Alluvium groundwater system critical for farmers and rural communities
The Queensland Government is proposing legislative amendments relating to the regulation of coal seam gas (CSG) in the Condamine Alluvium through the Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (the Bill).
The Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), Cotton Australia and Central Downs Irrigators Limited (CDIL) presented to the Primary Industries and Resources Committee hearing earlier this week providing critical feedback and seeking key amendments to the proposed Bill.
QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said the Queensland Farmers’ Federation welcomes the intent behind the Bill which is to strengthen protections for the Condamine Alluvium.
“We acknowledge those elements of the Bill that strengthen the management of impacts associated with CSG development and activities in the Condamine Alluvium, particularly in relation to recognising subsidence as a compensable impact, clarifying obligations associated with deviated drilling, strengthening pathways for landholder compensation,” Ms Sheppard said.
“However, in its current form, the Bill will not deliver its original intent. Instead, it introduces a significant policy and regulatory gap through the proposed removal of the Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) framework under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014.”
“The RIDA is a critical, front-end mechanism that ensures impacts on agricultural production are properly considered before development occurs. Its removal significantly weakens the existing framework, reduces protections for the Condamine Alluvium, and leaves landholders with fewer rights when resource development is proposed.”
“Whilst not perfect, the RIDA is a valuable negotiation tool for landholders and the RPI Act provisions seek to strike an appropriate balance between protecting agricultural lands and maximising opportunities for coexistence with resource development.”
In presenting to the Committee hearing, QFF asked for the following amendments to be made to the proposed Bill:
- Retain the RIDA framework and all the relevant provisions of the Regional Planning Interest Act.
- Address what will be a regulatory gap for existing approvals ensuring those wells not yet developed, but already under an approved EA, are conditioned to ensure protections to the Condamine Alluvium continue when it comes to the development of these wells.
- Ensure unintended gas migration is captured as a groundwater risk.
- Introduce a mechanism to protect volumetric water availability
- Introduce a stronger dispute resolution pathway, including referral to the independent Land Access Ombudsman.
“The inclusion of these critical amendments will ensure the Bill is able to deliver on its original intent of strengthening protections for the Condamine Alluvium and the land that overlays it. But without these amendments that intent will not be met, landholder rights will be weakened and this valuable water resource exposed to an unacceptable level of risk,” Ms Sheppard stressed.
Cotton Australia and Central Downs Irrigator Limited also presented to the Committee hearing.
Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray said Cotton Australia is not opposed to CSG extraction, but it is opposed to it occurring without proper protections.
“The proposal for this Bill to remove even the limited protections provided by the Regional Planning Interest Act would very much be a negative outcome,” Mr Murray said.
“This Bill should either be withdrawn or amended to return the Regional Planning Interest Act provisions, but this should be just the start of a partnership with the government, to more holistically address the risks and potential risks associated with CSG extraction, to ensure the agricultural productive capacity of the Darling Downs and the Condamine Alluvium is protected.”
CDIL Secretary Liza Balmain said the Bill’s proposal to remove the Regional Planning Interests (RPI) Act provisions for the Condamine Alluvium aquifer and floodplain would effectively remove critical agricultural land use protections for a vital food and fibre growing region and severely diminish landholder rights.
“This proposal would result in an unjustified and unacceptable shift from preventing and limiting the impacts of coal seam gas mining on priority agricultural land and its underpinning water source, to one which lets impacts occur regardless of the known and potential risks,” Ms Balmain said.
“Central Downs Irrigators strongly opposes the Bill in its current form for these reasons and calls for the RPI Act provisions to remain, with a commitment from the Queensland Government to work consultatively with stakeholders to bring about improved protections for the Condamine Alluvium and an effective Subsidence Management Framework for landholders."
The Condamine Alluvium is one of Queensland’s most important groundwater systems supporting some of Australia’s most productive cropping land, significant stock, domestic and community supplies, including up to 90% of the growing township of Dalby’s water supply.
Its ongoing viability is dependent on the integrity of its groundwater and surface water systems, as well as the condition of the highly fertile soils that overlay it. The agricultural sector appreciates the opportunity to provide critical feedback on the proposed Bill and is committed to continuing to work with the Queensland Government to ensure we get this complex and incredibly important legislative reform right.
Media contact:
Jak Kirwin
General Manager, Marketing and Communications, QFF
E: comms@qff.org.au
M: 0488 305 106