Community given a voice on proposed wind farm
- LNP delivers on its election commitment to listen to local communities on major renewable developments
- Proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm northwest of Rockhampton will not proceed following a comprehensive assessment of impacts on community
- Decision follows nation-leading reforms to planning laws that ensure wind farms follow the same approval processes as other major developments.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment to ensure local communities are consulted on any new wind farm developments.
Following a thorough assessment led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, the proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm 40 kilometres north west of Rockhampton, will not proceed.
The project included plans for up to 88 wind turbines, a battery energy storage system, and related infrastructure covering 1,269 hectares in total, including 434 hectares of vegetation that would need to be cleared.
The assessment considered significant feedback from local residents and stakeholders, as well as the impacts on local infrastructure and services, as well as housing.
More than 550 submissions were received during public consultation process, of which 85 per cent (473 submissions) supported the project application being reviewed.
It found the proposal did not meet the requirements of the Government's new planning laws, which ensure renewable energy projects are assessed by the same rigorous approval processes as other major resource developments.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie said the Government was delivering on its election commitment to ensure local communities are consulted on any new wind farm developments.
"For too long Queensland communities were ignored by Labor's failed laws, which shut them out of the approvals process for renewable energy projects proposed to be built in their backyard," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"Queenslanders deserve to have a say on any major development in their local community, which is why our Government introduced new nation-leading laws to give them a voice on issues that impact that future of their towns.
"Today's announcement highlights how these laws are already helping to level the playing field by ensuring councils and communities have a seat at the decision-making table."
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly MP said that community concerns had been listened to and considered as part of the approval process.
"The voices of regional Queenslanders who host these projects in their backyard are an important state interest and are finally being heard," Mr Kelly said.
"These large-scale developments impact on local infrastructure, people living and working in these communities and also the natural environment.
"Under Labor, local residents affected by these projects had no say, and concerns around the impacts on their communities were ignored."
