A 360 megawatt (MW) wind project in Queensland has received federal government environmental approvals and is now working to secure long term power purchase agreements, with the aim of reaching financial close and beginning construction in 2027.
The Moah Creek wind project, located around 30 kms west of Rockhampton, won approval through the federal government’s EPBC process last week, concluding an exhaustive process that began in 2020 and included several changes to the project layout and design.
“This approval reflects many years of environmental assessment, technical investigations and engagement with landholders, the local community, Traditional Owners, government agencies and other stakeholders,” said Matt Rebbeck, the CEO of RES, which owns the project through its wholly owned subsidiary, Central Queensland Power.
“Throughout the assessment process, we have continued to refine the project design in response to environmental studies, engineering investigations and community feedback to avoid, minimise and manage potential impacts wherever practicable.”
“The project layout approved under the EPBC Act incorporates design refinements developed over several years. These refinements have reduced potential impacts while maintaining the project’s ability to deliver renewable energy generation and regional economic benefits.”
RES says the environmental assessment program to support the EPBC approval process included 28 ecological surveys conducted over 183 field survey days between 2020 and 2026.
The approved project will comprise up to 60 wind turbines with a capacity of up to 360 MW. The project was declared a winner in December last year of Tender 4 under the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme.
That tender win will likely provide some sort of underwriting and lessening of the project’s downside risk, but it will still need to negotiate a PPA to enable it to secure finance for the project.
The company obtained state approvals for the project in 2023.
However, another RES project that has also secured state and federal approval, the 436.5 MW Tarong West wind project, has made the news after former federal Nationals leader and local MP David Littleproud asked the state government to “call in” and reject the project, largely due to issues around a proposed workers camp near Kingaroy Airport.
The state government has withdrawn state approvals for wind projects since being elected in 2024, and called in another two wind projects, as well as three standalone battery projects. Two of those projects have withdrawn from the call in process and are either starting over with local approvals or walking away from their projects.
An RES spokesperson said the Tarong West wind project has already been through a “comprehensive, multi-year assessment and approval process,” receiving Queensland Government SARA approval in July 2024 and Commonwealth approval under the EPBC Act in February 2026 following a Public Environment Report.
“The proposed temporary workers’ accommodation at Kingaroy Aerodrome is a separate matter currently before South Burnett Regional Council, and as the Mayor has publicly confirmed, it remains in the planning phase and has not yet been debated or voted on by Council,” a spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Renew Economy.
“RES’s view is that the established Development Application process is the appropriate way for these issues to be considered, and we will continue to provide clear, evidence-based responses to every matter raised through it.”
State owned energy utility Stanwell had an option to buy into the Tarong West wind project, but decided against it, as other state utilities have done since the election of the LNP government, and its ripping up of state renewable energy targets.
Stanwell still has an option to buy the output of the Tarong West project.
See also: New wind and battery energy park, backed by super funds, proposed for south-east Queensland
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