An up to 450 megawatt wind farm and accompanying big battery that won Queensland planning approval in December is in limbo, after the LNP government hit pause on the development of wind projects in the state to review their efforts on community consultation.
The Queensland LNP government last week issued a proposed “call in” notice on the state development approval for the Moonlight Range Wind Farm, to allow fresh consultation on whether the project meets state interests.
The extraordinary move opens a 40-day consultation period in which submissions can be made from community members, local governments and other stakeholders.
At the end of that period, on March 14, the government will take further time to decide whether or not to call-in the approval of Moonlight Range – an approval that was awarded on the Crisafulli government’s watch just last month.
In a statement released on the weekend, Queensland planning minister Jarrod Bleijie said the actions were a first step in delivering the LNP’s election commitment to ensure renewable energy projects are put through approval processes consistent with other land uses like mining.
“We will continue to consult in the implementation of our election commitment, to fix Labor’s flawed and inconsistent code assessable approval system for projects of this nature,” the deputy premier said.
“All projects, whether they are renewable energy, agriculture or mining should be subject to the same rigorous approvals process which includes community consultation and we will amend the assessment process to deliver this certainty to Queenslanders.”
To this end, Bleijie has also issued directions to pause the assessment of three other wind farm applications to allow proponents to demonstrate that appropriate community consultation and impact assessment has been undertaken. The pause is in effect for four months to May 16.
“Wind farm developments can have significant social, economic and environmental impacts on local regional communities. Yet wind farm developments are proceeding without mandatory community consultation, unlike other significant projects,” a separate government statement says.
The three wind farms put on pause include the Windlab developed but now Fortescue-owned 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Wongalee wind farm proposed for near Hughenden, and Windlab’s 1.4 GW Bungapan wind farm – 80 per cent of the output of which is contracted to help power Rio Tinto’s huge smelting and refining operations in Gladstone.
The third project on pause is RWE’s 1.1GW Theodore wind farm near Biloela, which is being proposed for development as part of a collaboration between RWE and the state-owned Stanwell, to support Stanwell’s plans for up to 10GW of renewable energy projects.
For the joint developers of the Moonlight Range wind and battery project, Greenleaf Renewables and Canadian investment giant Brookfield Asset Management, the Queensland government’s move to review its planning approval – and potentially call it in – is a blow to progress.
The Melbourne-based Greenleaf currently owns Moonlight Range but, under the terms of the joint development agreement (JDA), Brookfield will acquire the project once all approvals – including the remaining green tick from the federal government – are secured.
The project’s approval by Queensland’s State Assessment and Referral Agency had been welcomed by Greenleaf director Chris Righetti in December as a significant milestone for the renewables sector, marking the first wind farm to be approved under the updated version of State Code 23 – and the first under the new LNP government.
“Whilst there is more work to do on achieving project approvals, we are very pleased with SARA’s decision to approve the Moonlight Range Wind Farm & BESS project,” Righetti said at the time.
Greenleaf also said back in December that early engagement with the local community on Moonlight Range had included efforts to connect with local farmers, traditional custodians, and nearby residents to ensure the project aligns with community priorities and values.
In a statement emailed to Renew Economy on Monday, Greenleaf Renewables said it remains committed to conducting open and transparent communication with all stakeholders.
“We support robust and equitable approval processes that demonstrate engagement with local communities, as well as scientific and environmental integrity,” the statement says.
“We are confident in the quality and compliance of our DA submission for the Moonlight Range Wind Farm project, having worked closely in our responses with SARA to navigate a rigorous and collaborative planning process, involving detailed ecological, heritage, noise, visual impact, stormwater, and erosion studies, as well as transport route and impact assessments.”
The Queensland Conservation Council said on Monday that the LNP’s decision to halt wind farm planning assessments was worrying in light of the party’s lack of a firm energy plan for the state.
“We have been calling for improvements in Queensland’s planning regulations to make sure nature and communities are protected and restored as renewable energy is built,” said QCC energy strategist Clare Silcock.
“But we’re very concerned that the LNP Government is slamming the brakes on new projects without a clear plan to improve these regulations.
“We have no clarity on how long the projects will be put on hold … or what standards they will be assessed under,” Silcock says.
“The LNP made no changes to the draft Renewables Regulatory Framework issued in September 2024. They simply kicked the can down the road because they don’t have a plan of their own.”
RE-Alliance, a group working for the past decade with regional communities hosting large-scale renewables, was also keen to stress that the Queensland LNP must strike a delicate balance between improving development processes and keeping the state’s energy transition on track.
“It’s good to see the government acknowledging what I see on the ground in regions: a desire for greater transparency and consultation around renewable energy projects,” said RE-Alliance Queensland engagement manager, Tom Dixon.
“However, Queensland must not get left behind in the shift to renewables.
“We want to see a plan that continues to build on the natural advantages we have here in renewable energy, and a plan that delivers quality regional jobs and long-term benefits in the energy shift,” Dixon said.
