DDEC News
Downs and Regional Queensland Groups Calls for Urgent Expansion of Koala Protections Beyond SEQ
*Submission attached. A coalition of Southern Queensland environmental and community organisations is calling on the Queensland Government to urgently expand koala conservation efforts beyond South East Queensland (SEQ), warning that without immediate action, regional...
PROTECT THE DARLING DOWNS FROM COAL SEAM GAS EXPANSION
The Darling Downs is one of Australia’s most important food-producing regions. Its farms depend on fertile soils and the Condamine Alluvium — a vital groundwater system that supports agriculture, regional communities and towns. But a new Queensland Government Bill...
Proposed E-bike Licensing Laws Risk Leaving Communities Behind
The Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) and the Toowoomba Regional Bicycle Users Group (TRBUG) are calling on the Queensland Government to urgently reconsider proposed changes that would require people riding low-powered e-bikes (under 25km/h)...
Ministerial delegation
DDEC representatives met last week with the Honorable David Janetzki, Member for Toowoomba South, Treasurer, Minister for Energy and Minister for Home Ownership. Discussion focussed on DDEC proposals related to Virtual Power Plants and Social Impact Assessments (see...
Renewables booklet feedback
Following the recent release of our renewables booklets, DDEC received an email from another environmental organisation telling us that the information we are providing is at times inaccurate and ‘misleads the community’. The following blog draws from specific...
Renewables shouldn’t be the only industry paying community benefits – TRC needs to call on State must level the playing field
The Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) is calling on Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) to work with community and local governments across Queensland to urge the State Government to require mining and other major industrial developments to...
Prebunking: Helping Communities Build Resilience to Misinformation
Contributed by Joey Kenneth What is prebunking? Prebunking (also called pre-emptive debunking) is a communication strategy that helps people recognise and resist misinformation before it spreads widely. It’s based on psychological inoculation theory, which compares...
Koalas – environmental significance
Why Are Koalas Considered a Matter of National Environmental Significance? Under the EPBC Act, Koalas are listed as a threatened species. This means that any action (good or bad) can have a significant impact on its habitat. A koala habitat is defined as an area that...
Community Meeting in Glenvale to Oppose Development Threatening Koalas and Local Amenity – Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Residents of Western Glenvale will gather at 5.30pm on Tuesday 20 January for a community meeting at the end of Rebecca Street to discuss serious concerns about a proposed development at 300 Drayton Wellcamp Road (Application MCUI/2025/7307). The proposal seeks...
Toowoomba Region Koala Count 2025 Newsletter
Good Morning Fellow Toowoomba Region Koala Observers Welcome to our December 2025 Newsletter to thank everyone for their involvement in this year’s Koala Count and to announce our RECORD 314 OBSERVATIONS for the month of November 2025 across the Toowoomba Region. Over...