One of the South Burnett's most unique tourism attractions could be forced to close if the proposed Tarong West Wind Farm Workforce Camp proceeds at Kingaroy Airport, according to Kingaroy Observatory owner and renowned astronomer Dr Jim Barclay.
Dr Barclay and his wife Lyn have operated the Observatory in the Burnett region for the past 23 years, including the past 11 years at Kingaroy Airport, and said the proposed 424-person workers' camp threatened the dark skies that were fundamental to the Observatory's survival.
The Barclay's first opened their Observatory at Maidenwell in 2004 before relocating to Kingaroy Airport in 2015 following the expiry of its lease.
Dr Jim said since moving to Kingaroy in 2015, visitor numbers have more than tripled thanks to the region's accommodation, hospitality and tourism infrastructure.
"For more than two decades, my wife and I have built the Observatory into one of regional Queensland's leading astronomy destinations, attracting up to 3,000 local, national and international visitors each year.
"Relocating to Kingaroy enabled us to grow significantly, with many visitors choosing to support local accommodation providers, cafés, restaurants and other South Burnett businesses.
"Over the past 22 years, we've invested more than $1 million relocating the Observatory, purchasing specialised telescopes and equipment, constructing facilities and creating an internationally recognised astronomy tourism experience.
"Astronomy has been my passion for more than 60 years and sharing the wonders of the night sky with visitors has become our life's work. But you simply can't operate an observatory without darkness.
"The lights emanating from a workforce camp only a few hundred metres away would fundamentally change the visitor experience for people who have travelled hundreds, and sometimes thousands of kilometres to experience our night skies.
"If those dark skies are compromised, the Observatory's future is placed at serious risk."
Dr Barclay said even relatively small increases in artificial lighting could dramatically reduce the visibility of stars and deep-sky objects.
"Once light pollution is introduced, it permanently changes the observing conditions that visitors travel here to experience. The proposed camp lighting also raises broader questions around airport operations, aviation safety and impacts on surrounding wildlife that deserve careful assessment."
Dr Barclay said the Observatory delivered significant economic and educational benefits to the South Burnett by attracting visitors ranging from school groups through to amateur stargazers and professional astronomers.
"Every visitor who comes through our facility supports the local economy, this isn't just about one business, it's about protecting an iconic tourism asset that contributes to the entire local economy.
"If the Observatory was forced to close because of light pollution, South Burnett wouldn't just lose an observatory. It would lose one of Queensland's premier night-time tourism attractions and the ongoing visitor spend that comes with it."
Despite operating at Kingaroy Airport for more than a decade, Dr Barclay said he was deeply disappointed that neither South Burnett Regional Council nor the project proponents had engaged directly with him before the proposal was publicly exhibited.
"We've operated at the airport for 11 years and pay almost $4,000 each year under our Licence to Occupy, yet no one from Council or the project proponents approached us before identifying this site for a workforce camp.
"Given this proposal has the potential to force the closure of our business, I find that extraordinary. I am nearly 80 years of age, relocating a specialised observatory like this simply isn't a realistic option for me. Once the dark skies are gone, so too is the business we've created over the past two decades."
"To my knowledge, Kathy Duff was the only councillor who visited the Observatory before becoming Mayor. No other councillor has taken the time to understand how this proposal could affect one of the region's most unique tourism attractions."
Dr Barclay also questioned whether sufficient planning had been undertaken before the airport site was identified.
"Council and the project proponents simply haven't done enough homework. There are serious questions around traffic impacts and the suitability of existing roads.
"Geoff Raph Drive and Warren Truss Drive were never designed for heavy vehicle movements around the clock. Traffic already increases substantially during outages at Tarong Power Station, and adding hundreds of workers and associated vehicle movements each day would place additional pressure on roads that businesses, airport users and nearby residents already rely upon."
He said the proposal also needed to consider Kingaroy Airport's obligations under Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) lighting requirements and how additional lighting could affect existing airport operations.
"This isn't simply about our business. The proposal also has implications for nearby residents, airport users, the Kingaroy Soaring Club, the Vintage Machinery Club, the Men's Shed, the RSPCA and other organisations that have operated from the airport precinct for many years."
Dr Barclay said the proposal also raised broader questions about meaningful community engagement and earning a genuine social licence to operate.
"I understand major infrastructure projects need to happen and I'm not opposed to renewable energy. But projects like this only succeed when proponents earn their social licence by earning the trust and confidence of the communities they're proposing to operate within.
"That means genuinely engaging with the people, businesses and organisations that will be most affected before key decisions are made, not after a proposal has already been released for public submissions.
"If a long-established tourism business faces losing everything because of a decision like this, surely the first step should have been to sit down and have an honest conversation.
"Good projects are built on good relationships, and good relationships start with respect. That's how you earn a social licence to operate."
