2025 was a year of transition for environmental consulting in Australia – one that reshaped how proponents approach major projects.

The federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, announced proposed reforms this week to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Driven by ambitious climate goals and unfavourable delays in the current approval system, the government plans to introduce ‘go’ and ‘no-go’ zones, which will identify areas where projects can proceed without extensive applications, and areas where development cannot occur under any circumstances. Environmental Consultant Holly Hanley explains what the reforms may mean for developers and projects.