Forest Wind accuses LNP government of blocking it from community consultation

The Queensland government is being accused of preventing the owners of the giant 1.2 GW Forest Wind project from consulting with local communities, or unveiling changes that would see turbines set further from local towns.

The project proponent on Monday issued a strongly worded statement about the government’s actions, saying it had excluded Forest Wind from ministerial meetings ahead of the decision to repeal enabling legislation – despite consultations going on for at least a year.

The proposed 1.2 gigawatt (GW) Forest Wind project was effectively cancelled at the start of September after deputy premier and planning minister Jarrod Bleijie announced he would repeal legislation, passed in 2020, that allows state forests to host wind projects. 

The $3 billion project still has its planning approval, however, which was also granted in 2020. 

Forest Wind is now calling for the state government to “play fair” and is asking the government not to repeal the legislation and “engage in good-faith negotiations to secure a fair and workable outcome for all parties”.

It is also taking the fight to the people, launching the Forest Wind Supporters Club and putting pressure on Bleijie to explain precisely how the project doesn’t align with the government’s energy goals.

In its statement, the developer published an eight-point guide showing how the project fits in with state government policies, and included a wish from its spokesperson that investment decisions not be politicised. 

Bleijie claimed his reason for repealing the legislation, rather than cancelling the planning approval, was due to everything from the exit of developer Tilt Renewables in August 2024, after it bought a 50 per cent stake in early 2023.

He also cited nnamed but “widespread” community concerns, and the failure to act the planning permit though the project is still stuck in the federal environmental queue.

His statement at the time said these reasons together meant it “failed to meet the minimum project requirements” set this year. 

The developer declined to comment on whether it would seek legal remedies, but in its statement alleges the state actively prevented it from dealing with some of that so-called widespread community concern. 

It says in May 2025 it submitted a revised layout that increased the distance between turbines and the town edges of Wallu, Maaroom, Boonooroo, Tuan, Poona and Talegalla Weir to 4km. 

“However, the state did not permit public announcement or community consultation at the time,” a statement from the company said.

“Despite Forest Wind not being requested by the State to remedy, cure, or overcome any matters related to the project, Forest Wind was excluded from further consultation and ministerial meetings before the State announced its intention to repeal the enabling legislation.”

The developer also says it plans to negotiate community benefits agreements, as per legislation revealed in May and as two other projects with planning applications in the system have been given time to do.

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