Queensland LNP Government Axes $1 Billion Wind Farm Project

The government said it received 550 submissions on the project, with 85 percent expressing doubt about it going ahead.

Wind turbines can be seen in Albany, Western Australia, on Aug 4, 2023. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has cancelled a $1 billion (US$650 million) wind farm project in his state citing lack of community support.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) government brought the curtain down on the Moonlight Range Wind Farm on May 26 a project located 40 kilometres north-west of the central city of Rockhampton.

The state government said it received 550 submissions during a public consultation process on the project, with 85 percent calling for its application to be reviewed.

Deputy Premier Bleijie’s decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of renewable projects by the LNP government since coming to power late last year.

“Queenslanders deserve to have a say on any major development in their local community, which is why our government introduced new nation-leading laws to give them a voice on issues that impact the future of their towns,” he said in a statement.

“Today’s announcement highlights how these laws are already helping to level the playing field by ensuring councils and communities have a seat at the decision-making table.

“For too long Queensland communities were ignored by Labor’s failed laws, which shut them out of the approvals process for renewable energy projects proposed to be built in their backyard.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie (L) and Premier David Crisafulli arrive to talk to media after being sworn in at Government House in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct. 28, 2024. AAP Image/Jono Searle

Liberal National MP Glen Kelly, whose Mirani electorate includes the project site, said the decision was great news for locals.

“Today is a great day for the Mirani electorate,” he said on social media.

“I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with our communities from the start, raising serious concerns about the lack of consultation and the completely inappropriate location of this project.”

Moonlight Range’s cancellation comes three months after the Queensland government paused all new wind farm projects in the state.

The government has also introduced new rules and requirements for any approval, effectively making it more challenging for wind turbine developments to receive the green light.

The Moonlight Range Wind Farm Project

The proposed Moonlight Range included plans for up to 88 wind turbines and a battery energy storage system.

It was estimated that the project would cover a total area of 1,269 hectares, including 434 hectares of vegetation.

However, Kelly has claimed that Moonlight Range would need 741 hectares of native vegetation to be cleared and for mountain tops to be blasted flat to install the turbines.

According to project developer Greenleaf Renewables, each wind turbine was expected to reach a maximum tip height of 280 metres, and the entire project could have generated up to 450 megawatts of electricity—enough to power around 260,000 homes in Queensland.

The company estimated that the project would create around 300 jobs during peak construction and employ up to 10 permanent full-time staff upon completion.

Photo of land clearing and preparation for the Clarke Creek wind farm in central Queensland, Australia. Courtesy of Steven Nowakowski

A Mixed Signal to the Clean Energy Sector: Environmental Group

The Queensland Conservation Council (QCC), an environmental advocacy organisation, said the axing of the Moonlight Range Wind Farm sent a mixed signal to the sector.

“Queensland’s ageing coal power stations were offline a staggering 78 times over the last summer period,” QCC senior campaigner Stephanie Gray said.

“We simply cannot afford to rely on these unreliable generators that drive up power prices when they break down.

“The message from the electorate at the federal election was crystal clear: Australians support renewable energy and climate action.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to Queensland Energy Minister David Janetzki and Greenleaf Renewables for additional comment.