Forest Wind’s $2bn renewable plan at Tuan Forest hits more delays

Plans to build a multibillion-dollar wind farm in the Tuan Forest between Gympie and Maryborough have hit strong headwinds, with timelines on the project pushing out.

Labor State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace revealed the latest delays in a response to questions about the stalled wind farm from LNP MP Tony Perrett.

Plans to transform part of the Tuan Forest into a $2 billion renewable energy hub have hit more strong headwinds, with key environment assessments on the project now not expected to be finished for two years.

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace revealed the latest delays in a response to questions on notice about the stalled wind farm from LNP MP Tony Perrett.

The project has been bogged down for several years on the back of environmental questions and changing ownership.

It was originally planned to be running by 2023.

The wind far will be built in the Tuan Forest, which stretches from Wallu, 40km northeast of Gympie, to the southeastern outskirts of Maryborough.

It includes construction of up to 226 turbines across the 195,000ha area.

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace revealed the latest delays in a response to questions about the stalled wind farm from LNP MP Tony Perrett.

Mrs Grace said the privately funded project still required approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The assessment was still ongoing, with Forest Wind “continuing to provide additional information to the Commonwealth”.

“The environmental assessment approvals are anticipated for completion in 2026,” Mrs Grace said.

It was previously expected this would be completed in late 2024.

Negotiations were still underway over the planned route of 65km of high voltage transmission lines needed to connect the wind farm to the state power grid at the Woolooga substation.

A Forest Wind spokeswoman said the new deadline “takes into consideration the estimated average time currently required for Federal Government environment approvals for the wind farm area and the connection corridor to the grid”.

The project is planned to be built in the Tuan Forest, which stretches from Wallu, 40km northeast of Gympie, to the southeastern outskirts of Maryborough.

Mr Perrett said Tuesday the delays further prolonged the angst of affected residents.

“Eight years since the government started secret talks about the Tuan Forest Wind Farm and those impacted must face more years of anxiousness,” Mr Perrett said.

The delays meant the project would still be in the works almost 10 years after it was first proposed in 2016, and seven years after it was revealed to the public in late 2019.

“The length of time it is taking, the timelines, and delays prove the community needs to be given more say in what goes on in their backyards,” Mr Perrett said.

“Gympie residents know about the EPBC Act – that is why the Traveston Dam failed.”