Taroom Trough Development Plan

Learn what we are doing to improve long-term fuel security.

The Queensland Government is progressing the development of the Taroom Trough by approving a works regulation, the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Taroom Trough Development Plan Works) Amendment Regulation 2026, directing the Coordinator‑General to undertake works reasonably connected with, or incidental to, the preparation of the Taroom Trough Development Plan. It also activates the Coordinator‑General’s powers under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 to facilitate preparation of the plan.

The Coordinator-General will lead whole-of-government planning and stakeholder engagement to enable a shared vision and development pathway for oil and gas resources in the Taroom Trough. The plan will be prepared in consultation with stakeholders, including local governments and industry. This is intended to provide greater certainty to support investment decisions, while also providing clarity on the nature, timing and opportunities associated with development for regional communities.

Why the plan is needed

Queensland relies heavily on imported crude oil and refined fuels, particularly diesel, to support essential services, industries and communities including mining, freight and agriculture.

In the current geopolitical environment, global supply chains are experiencing significant disruption, exposing Queensland to fuel supply risks and market volatility. Domestic oil production is limited and largely committed, while alternative supply sources remain undeveloped.

The Taroom Trough has been identified as a medium-term development opportunity to improve domestic fuel security and support regional economic development. While exploration, early-stage activity to determine whether oil or gas may be present, is still underway, coordinated planning is required to support progression toward potential commercial production.

The opportunity

Oil and gas resources in the Taroom Trough could help reduce reliance on imported fuels and improve long-term domestic supply. Being situated within an established energy province, with proximity to legacy oil and existing gas infrastructure, the Taroom Trough has access to strong foundations for future development planning.

The Queensland Government is progressing work in the Taroom Trough to support the state and the nation’s future fuel security. This is to be guided by the Taroom Trough Development Plan, which will provide a structured and streamlined framework to coordinate development and infrastructure requirements, and to inform project-level decision making and investment.

About the Taroom Trough

The Taroom Trough is an onshore oil and gas region within the broader Bowen–Surat Basin, a large geological area where oil and gas resources have formed over long periods of time.

Located between Chinchilla and Roma in south-west Queensland, the Taroom Trough is situated predominantly within the Western Downs Regional Council local government area and extending across several other local government areas, including:

Maranoa Regional Council
Central Highlands Regional Council
Banana Shire Council
Goondiwindi Regional Council.

What the plan will deliver

The plan is to provide a strategic whole-of-basin framework to enable the orderly, efficient and responsible development of oil and gas resources within the Taroom Trough. It will:

establish a shared vision and development pathway for the orderly, efficient and responsible development of oil and gas resources in the Taroom Trough
establish a shared, robust and integrated subsurface understanding to support infrastructure planning
consider existing and planned facilities, infrastructure, networks, services and associated corridors and identify opportunities to leverage these assets (e.g. gas, power, water, pipelines, refineries, roads and other trunk infrastructure)
identify new facilities, infrastructure, services and associated corridors and other relevant matters that may support development of the Taroom Trough
improve regulatory efficiency and certainty through a coordinated approach to approvals and shared evidence
inform downstream pathway-to-market analysis, including liquids handling, transport, refinery suitability and integration with existing processing and supply chain infrastructure
provide for the delivery of regional investment and jobs and the management of cumulative project impacts
provide clarity for community on future development and opportunities for the region
provide greater clarity and confidence for future decision making.

Stakeholder engagement

The plan will be prepared collaboratively with state agencies, local governments, industry, community stakeholders and the Australian Government.

The Coordinator-General is working with stakeholders, including local governments, communities and industry, to help build trust and a shared understanding of the plan as well as support open communication, exchange of information and collaboration to inform the development of the plan.

In early September 2026, the Office of the Coordinator-General, in partnership with Coexistence Queensland, hosted two information forums in Surat and Condamine to provide information and support community discussion about current exploration activities and potential future development of tight oil and gas in the Taroom Trough.

The forums brought together more than 120 community members with representatives from companies working in the region, state and local government and academia. Through the forums, communities were able to:

Build their understanding of tight oil and gas development, including current status of activities, timing of future development and how it differs from coal seam gas activities
Discuss matters of local importance, such as regional economic opportunity and potential environmental or social impacts
Provide feedback to support planning as the Taroom Trough Development Plan is prepared.

A video summarising the events is linked below.

Enquiries

For any enquiries regarding the Taroom Trough Development Plan, please direct correspondence to taroomtrough@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au

Resources

Last updated: 18 September 2026