The 2025 Bundaberg Ag Forum has successfully concluded, delivering key insights and opportunities for the region’s farmers while tackling critical issues shaping the industry’s future.
Held on 3 February, the forum featured Australia’s largest landfill biogas company, LMS Energy, which explored ways for Bundaberg farmers to transform organic waste and energy crops into renewable fuels.
Additionally, world-renowned Great Barrier Reef expert Dr Peter Ridd provided a compelling scientific perspective on the Queensland Government’s Reef
Regulations.
The proposed $4.4 billion Paradise Dam rebuild was a focal point of discussions, with Sunwater executive general manager Cameron Milliner fielding questions from the audience.
The forum also hosted a robust expert panel discussion on the future of town planning and the Right to Farm, featuring Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn.
“This forum serves as a crucial platform for our region’s producers, who are guardians of the land we all rely on for food and water security,” said Dale Holliss, executive director of the Bundaberg Ag-food and Fibre Alliance (BAFFA).
“The discussions at this event provided essential insights into sustainable energy opportunities for farmers, including the use of organic waste and energy crops such as Sweet Sorghum, Sunn Hemp, Soy, Faba Beans, and Chickpeas for renewable fuel generation.”
LNP MP Stephen Bennett, and Chair of the Queensland Parliament’s Primary Industries and Resources Committee, hosted the event.
This forum brought together key decision-makers, industry leaders, and experts to explore pathways for future-proofing Bundaberg’s agricultural sector.
Dr Peter Ridd’s presentation challenged the basis of the Reef Regulations, arguing that scientific principles demonstrate Bundaberg should be exempt from these restrictions.
“There is ample justification for a science audit of the evidence used to include the Burnett catchment in the Reef Regulations,” Dr Ridd said.
“Compelling new information on the region’s oceanography makes it clear that Bundaberg farmers have no impact on the Great Barrier Reef.”
The event concluded with an engaging two-hour workshop by LMS Energy, where participants gained practical knowledge on renewable energy solutions. Q&A sessions throughout the forum enabled direct engagement between farmers and industry experts.
“Bundaberg’s producers contribute $2 billion to the region’s $8.2 billion economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and our community’s way of life,” Mr. Holliss said.
“The success of this forum reaffirms the importance of collaboration between farmers, decision-makers, and industry leaders to ensure the best outcomes for agriculture and the communities that depend on it.”
