Biggenden wind farm project put forward by Greenleaf Renewables

Plans for a wind farm in the North Burnett could power thousands of homes and save hundreds of thousands of carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to the company behind a new, ambitious proposal.

A new wind farm proposed for the North Burnett could generate enough electricity to power 65,000 homes a year and avoid about 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. Picture: Dominic Elsome

A new wind farm proposed for the North Burnett could generate enough electricity to power 65,000 homes a year and avoid about 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Plans for wind farm between Gympie and Maryborough 

That‘s according to the company behind the proposal, Greenleaf Renewables.

Bundaberg bio-hub plan powers on

The proposal for Didcot near Biggenden and west of Bundaberg could see up to 23 wind turbine generators built.

The project is currently in the developmental and environmental approval application stages.

If it makes it through the relevant approvals, the wind farm will undergo construction on an area of 4465.2ha.

A map of the proposed site.

The site at 885 Farrells Rd, Didcot, was chosen for its strong wind resource and proximity to the two 66kV Ergon transmission lines located about one kilometre to the north of the site.

Technical assessments, such as noise, visual impact and ecological studies remain ongoing.

Environmental findings for the project cite the need for clearing of vegetation for the project, which it is acknowledged would create some disturbance to the natural surrounds.

Of these concerns are removal of habitat, disruption of ecological processes, disruption of soil structure, which may impact vegetation and geological stability and acoustic disturbance and construction and traffic works which may “result in collisions with fauna” and cause some localised air pollution.

If the wind farm gets the go-ahead from the state government, it will be the second such project in the Wide Bay Burnett.

A $2 billion wind farm project has been proposed for Tuan Forest, between Gympie and Maryborough.

The project has hit some hurdles, however, with a spokesman for company Forest Wind recently revealing the pandemic had created some issues.