Daintree Oxbow Restoration Discussed on ABC Far North Radio
The future of the Daintree Lowlands is now part of a broader public conversation.
Following the recent Douglas Shire Council decision, Rainforest Rescue CEO Branden Barber joined presenter Charlie McKillop on ABC Far North Breakfast to discuss what the initial outcome means. Placing a question mark on the future of the landscape, local communities and for the potential of ecological restoration in the region.
Charlie McKillop, presenter of Breakfast on ABC Far North
A region in transition, doing it tough
The discussion reflects a region grappling with change. For some landholders, the transition away from sugarcane raises real concerns about livelihoods and land use.
“They’re not going to create any employment doing that… it’s just going to tie up good agricultural land.” Former local cane farmer, Matt Watson
Perspectives like this highlight the uncertainty facing former cane-growing areas, especially what constitutes agricultural viability and where feasible farming alternatives are still yet to emerge.
Ecology and economy intertwine for a way forward
Rainforest Rescue’s proposal centres on a different model. Principally, one that moves away from historical extractive land use and toward restoration-based economies, working with landholders to realise the alternative value of land.
“What we’re trying to do here is support something that’s new—carbon credits, biodiversity credits… contributive actions.”
Branden Barber, CEO Rainforest Rescue.
This approach proposes that restoration is not just environmental repair, but as a long-term regional economic opportunity tied to emerging markets and ecosystem services.
Local skills and long-term outcomes
A key concern raised in the discussion was employment. For Rainforest Rescue, restoration is more than native ecology, providing the potential for a new kind of localised workforce.
“It’s going to provide plenty of jobs… jobs that will last the length of time that it’s going to take to restore and maintain this land… creating a skilled workforce that can adapt to different situations… that will provide really interesting and new and significant skills for a region that is needing people to help it in transition. You have to try to fix what’s wrong and these are genuine attempts and viable tools to fix these problems.” Branden explained.
Beyond immediate employment, the focus is on developing skills that can support long-term environmental work across the region. The Wet Tropics Restoration Alliance already exists to support these skillsets in the Daintree area, so there is precedence for these roles contributing to the regional economy.
What the council decision permits
The council’s decision delivered only partial approval, allowing restoration to proceed in key ecological areas while limiting the broader vision.
“The partial approval… is the ecological heart of the project… And that matters for everything that follows,” Branden highlighted.
While far from the full outcome sought, it provided a meaningful starting point. In the short-term it allows restoration to continue and demonstrate results on the ground, while negotiations continue to unlock the full ecological and economic potential of the Daintree Oxbow. The area could become a landmark site for environmental restoration at scale in Douglas Shire, if full approval is given.
A planning scheme out of touch with reality
As the conversation continued, a deeper issue emerged: the gap between current realities and existing planning frameworks.
Branden pointed out that: “The wet tropics management authority and others have already offered to work with the council on more nuanced mapping… The planning scheme hasn’t caught up with the reality on the ground.”
As traditional industries decline, questions around land use are becoming more urgent. The conversation is no longer theoretical. Right now, it’s unfolding across council chambers, farms, and the wider community in the Far North.
Creating outcomes for land that’s fit for another purpose
Despite the challenges, the Oxbow project moves forward.
“We’ve got a real live development permit… we can begin restoration and demonstrate outcomes on the ground… What we’re trying to do is provide solutions for land that’s not good quality agricultural land.”
With partial approval secured, work can begin in priority areas while broader pathways, such as planning scheme amendments and potential appeals, continue to be explored. The Far North Queensland Regional Plan is currently under review, so the timing is in some ways ideal.
The interview concluded by reflecting on something larger than a single decision.
It marks a shift in how landscapes like the Daintree Lowlands are understood. Australia’s land use is no longer defined solely by past industries, but by the possibilities of restoration, resilience, and renewal.
As the conversation continues, so too does the work on the ground, preparing for the long term.
Listen to the full interview—broadcast on Wed 1 Apr 2026 at 7:35am—between Branden from Rainforest Rescue and Charlie McKillop on ABC Far North Breakfast. Scroll to 1:42:00 to hear the segment.
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