The National EPA is using its new powers to protect the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with the agency’s first Environment Protection Order (EPO) issued to Wombinoo Station in North Queensland.
The EPO prevents further land clearing works on 1600 hectares in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, on the station south of Cairns.
Hydrological evidence indicates that further clearing of the land – including removal of felled trees and burning vegetation - could cause over 1000 tonnes of fine sediment to make its way into the Great Barrier Reef each year.
Fine sediment is a significant threat to the Great Barrier Reef.
The original clearing of the 1600 hectares occurred in 2025 and remains under active investigation by the National EPA.
EPOs are a new environmental protection power that came into effect on 24 August 2026 in the latest tranche of the Australian Government’s environment protection reforms.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides for EPOs to be issued to prevent serious damage to protected matters under the Act.
An EPO remains in force for 14 days in which the person it is given to must comply with its requirements. The EPO may be extended for a maximum of 14 additional days.
National EPA Head of Compliance and Enforcement Dani Yannopoulos said:
“This EPO has been issued to address the risk of further harm through unauthorised land clearing near a waterway leading to the Great Barrier Reef.
“The new power to issue an EPO allows us to act quickly and decisively to prevent environmental harm
“The National EPA will take strong action where there is knowing, wilful or significant environmental damage caused by breaches of the EPBC Act.
“Federal laws provide special protections for the environment and habitats in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area because the reef is such an important and iconic natural asset for Australia.”
Background
After an EPO the next steps may include action under section 70 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to formally request a landholder to make a referral to the National EPA.
The National EPA may also apply for a court injunction to prevent any activities that are or likely to be a contravention of the EPBC Act.
The National EPA recently released its new guide to help landowners comply with the EPBC Act: Agriculture and the EPBC Act.
If an investigation finds that unlawful land clearing has occurred, penalties are:
Civil Penalties
For contraventions occurring on or after 1 July 2026, the value of a penalty unit is $364.
- Individuals: Up to 5,000 penalty units, equating to a maximum civil penalty of $1,820,000.
- Corporations: Up to 50,000 penalty units, equating to a maximum civil penalty of $18,200,000.
Criminal Penalties
- Imprisonment: Up to 7 years imprisonment;
- Fines: Up to 1,000 penalty units for individuals (and up to 5 times this amount for corporations); or
- both
Additional Enforcement Remedies
- Remediation Determinations: Legally binding directions to repair or mitigate the damaged ecosystem or protected habitat.
- Injunctions: Federal Court orders to immediately prevent ongoing unauthorised clearing activities.
- Enforceable Undertakings: Formal, binding agreements where parties commit to specific remedial or corrective actions.