Several wind farm projects in Queensland are facing delays, including one in the Rockhampton region that has been called in by the government.
The Greenleaf Renewables and Brookfield-backed Moonlight Range Wind Farm development in Rockhampton has been paused following concerns raised by residents about a lack of consultation.
Other wind farm projects in Queensland, such as Wongalee and Prairie near Townsville, and Theodore and Bungaban, are also on hold for the time being.
Koalas in Rockhampton Region
Mirani Liberal National Party (LNP) MP Glen Kelly shared a video of a koala in the Lotus Creek region, near the location of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm, to highlight the biodiversity of the area.
Concerns have been raised about wind farms encroaching on koala habitat, with experts warning about the impact of noise on koalas’ ability to find mates and habitat loss.
The Moonlight Range project would feature 88 wind turbines spread over 20,000 hectares of land.
Government Calls for Consultation
The government’s call-in notice allows stakeholders to submit feedback on the wind farm and other projects until March 14.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie criticized the lack of consultation under the previous government and emphasized the importance of community input in the approval process for such projects.
Greenleaf, the company behind the Moonlight Range project, has expressed its commitment to open communication and adherence to approval processes.
The company has conducted detailed studies on ecological, heritage, noise, visual impact, and other assessments to ensure compliance with regulations.
