Solar proposal gets green light to build “de facto renewable energy precinct” in north Queensland

Plans for the staged development of more than a gigawatt of solar on sugar cane farming land south-east of Townsville in north Queensland have been cleared for construction by the local council.

The Burdekin Shire Council last week voted to approve the potentially huge three-stage project proposed for Upper Haughton by first-time renewables developer Cambridge JMD Australia, starting with a 374 megawatt (300MW AC) stage one installment.

The Cambridge Solar Farm went before the local council in April, with plans to install more than 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of solar, including more than 250MW in stage two and nearly 600MW in stage three.

The project just last month was waved through the federal environmental approval process as “not a controlled action.”

The development application says the total estimated capital investment value of the entire development is $2.4 billion, and is expected to create 400 direct jobs, and 935 indirect jobs over the six year development period.

The documents say the new solar project – being adjacent to the existing Haughton Solar Farm – will benefit from co-location with existing renewables infrastructure to create a “de-facto renewable energy precinct in itself.”

“Importantly, the site is very well located in regard to electricity infrastructure, with a Powerlink high voltage electricity transmission corridor traversing the site into which the proposal will ultimately be connected,” it says.

The application also notes that the project was well supported by its neighbours, with only one of the 10 adjoining land owners raising concerns, which were about increased traffic. “The nine other neighbours had no objections,” the report says.

According to the developers, removal of the existing sugar cane from the site for the Cambridge Solar farm is expected to cut the number of sugar cane farms in Burdekin Shire’s local government area by just 0.3%.

The solar farm sits within Queensland’s Northern Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which was underway before the government started its legislated REZ process.

The development application says the project’s location within the REZ highlights the site’s suitability.

“The proposed solar farm will effectively align with the intent of the REZ and contribute to meeting Queensland’s renewable energy targets,” it says.

Cambridge RE Partners is a Singapore-based fund manager with investments in real estate and – more recently – renewable energy. Cambridge JMD Australia is collaborating on the solar farm with North Queensland landholder Davco and Confluence Energy, which it says will be responsible for overseeing all development activities.

“We recognise Australia’s rising demand for energy, and we are eager to assist with clean electricity from the Cambridge Solar Farm,” said Cambridge JMD Australia managing director Michael Dwyer in a statement in April.

“It will not only support Australia’s carbon emissions target but this solar project will also bring crucial investment, job opportunities, and economic advantages to the North Queensland communities.”

According to the company website, site works for Cambridge solar farm are expected to start in 2025.