Renewable energy developers continue to persist with major projects in the increasingly challenging state of Queensland, with both Vestas and Squadron Energy pushing forward on respective new wind farms.
Squadron, owned by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, is in the early stages of planning a new wind farm in south-central Queensland called the Pikedale project.
The developer is proposing to put up to 200 turbines with capacity of up to 1.3 gigawatts (GW), and a supporting battery, hard up against the 923MW MacIntyre wind farm.
The locale is right in the middle of the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regional council areas.
The Goondiwindi mayor in particular has been vocal about the need for better community engagement from wind farm developers, saying in January there had been “little to no consultation or engagement” to ensure community benefit by developers.
“The introduction of an impact assessment framework for renewable energy projects and approval processes that are consistent with other land uses like agriculture or mining, would set clear expectations around community benefits and provide certainty for residents and industry,” mayor Lawrence Springborg said in a statement, following the introduction of new planning rules for wind farms in January.
“It’s only right that the communities impacted most by these large-scale new developments are consulted as part of any approval process.”
Southern Downs mayor Melissa Hamilton welcomed the fact the community would be involved in the consultation process and have its voice heard, following changes to how developers must engage with locals, while state MP James Lister is opposing the project.
Queensland’s new rules mean wind projects must do an impact assessment, requiring more comprehensive reporting, broader impact considerations, and increased community consultation.
Squadron says it’s been talking to landowners for the past year and it’s now widened consultation about the proposed project to neighbours and the wider community, before launching state and federal permit applications.
A community information evening in April revealed the developer will also be offering energy bill rebates to neighbours within its community benefits package, an option pioneered by Engie at its The Plains wind farm at Hay, New South Wales, but long called for by neighbours of renewables projects.
The information night also highlighted the difficulty of communicating complicated development processes with the general public.
One attendee complained to local media after the event that Squadron didn’t know what kind of turbine it would put on the site — a decision taken much later in the years-long permit application process — and that he couldn’t see turbines moving at the MacIntyre wind farm, not understanding that it was only just being brought online at the time. Others complained that it was the first time they’d heard about the project.
The project is already drawing fire, with anti-wind group Rainforest Reserves Australia campaigning against it.
A still-open petition launched in April opposed to the project has 1180 signatures to date.
What is unclear is how many of these opponents live near the project.
The owners of the land Pikedale is proposed for however are enthusiastic about the project, telling local newspaper The Courier Mail that income from turbines will protect them from droughts and potentially allow them to continue farming for generations to come.
Those landowners also pointed to the economic benefits now being seen in the nearby town of Wawrick, which was a key jumping off site during the construction of the MacIntyre wind farm.
Captains Mountain receives EPBC orders
Danish wind giant Vestas has been working on its Captain’s Mountain wind farm to the north of Squadron’s project for longer, testing the site and readying the community since 2021.
This week, federal environment planners said it would need to lodge a public environmental report (PER) given its a controlled action under the EPBC process.
A PER is one of several pathways project developers can be sent down, with this one used instead of an environmental impact statement for projects that need a narrower and less encompassing scope for assessment.
The up to 252MW wind farm is proposed for a spot near the Millmerran coal fired generator in the Toowoomba region.
The $700 million project proposes to install up to 35 wind turbines and connect them to the existing transmission network near the coal power station.
Vestas is also hyper aware of the changes afoot in Queensland, saying as much on the Captains Mountain wind farm website.
The project recently received a regional planning determination confirming the amount of land clearing it will need complies with state regulations for responsible land use.
The next step will be to lodge a full development application with the State Assessment and Referral Agency.
*This article has been updated with Southern Downs mayor Melissa Hamilton’s response.
