CECIL PLAINS, QLD — On Wednesday, June 17th, farmers and landholders from across the Darling Downs will converge on a Cecil Plains property to create a massive aerial statement. Using a minimum of 45 tractors, the community will spell out “NO GAS” across the black soil to send a clear message to the state government: prime agricultural land and the Condamine Alluvium groundwater must be permanently protected.

The grassroots farmer action follows a challenging 6 week ordeal for the community, after a Parliamentary Committee recommended maintaining critical Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) protections that the Crisafulli government had sought to remove from the Condamine Alluvium. However, with the government yet to formally adopt the recommendations, and a comprehensive subsidence management framework still missing, local farmers are escalating their campaign to call for the strengthened protections they were promised at the last election.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: The “NO GAS” Cecil Plains Aerial Rally
WHO: The Save Our Darling Downs (SODDs) Team, local farmers, and community members.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
WHERE: Wamara Farming, 156 Ladner Rd, Condamine Plains QLD 4352

10:00 AM: Vehicle Arrival & Staging
11:15 AM: Aerial Photography & Drone Filming — 45+ tractors complete the massive “NO GAS” formation across prime agricultural land.
12:00 PM:Community BBQ & Strategy Briefing

Submitted By:
Ahri Tallon
Lock the Gate
South Western Queensland and Downs Organiser
E: ahri@lockthegate.org.au