Future of $2bn Forest Wind Tuan wind farm unclear

The Federal Government has been quizzed on the future of a multibillion-dollar wind farm, flagged for development between Gympie and Maryborough, which has shown no signs of progress.

The future of a proposed $2bn wind farm at the Tuan Forest remains under a cloud with progress having ground to a halt on the project only two years after it blew into the headlines.

Forest Wind’s 226 turbine project was announced in early 2020, with plans to construct the renewable precinct within the pine plantation about 50km north of Gympie.

In the two years since, however, little progress appears to have been made.

This was despite the State Government continuing its push towards more renewable energy projects, including the announcement of a new $778m wind farm to be built southwest of Kingaroy.

Forest Wind has not published any newsletter updates about the project since July, 2021.

It said in the last update it was preparing a request for information report for the Federal Department of Environment, which would then determine when the project would be open for public notification.

The 226 turbine wind farm is proposed to be built across a large span of the pine forest.

In March 2021, a Forest Wind spokesman said in a published statement, Covid-19 had created hurdles.

“It has limited our ability to travel, meet with stakeholders and collaborate face to- face,” he said.

“Whilst we have been able to transition many activities to online meetings and digital work, COVID-19 has created some disruption.”

It was taking the opportunity to “revise the program”.

An August 2022 release to companies and stakeholders 17 months later, it reiterated this revision was still underway and “we anticipate being able to provide an update before the end of this calendar year”.

Forest Wind did not respond to questions about its future by deadline.

A Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spokeswoman said it was still awaiting key details from Forest Wind.

A federal Department of Energy and the Environment spokeswoman said it is still waiting for further information about the Forest Wind project requested in July 2020.

She said the company was asked for more information about the “relevant impacts” of the wind farm in July, 2020.

“The department is currently awaiting the proponent’s assessment documentation in response to the department’s request,” she said.

“The approval of any project under the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) Act follows a rigorous assessment of the potential impacts of the project on matters of national environmental significance.

“This assessment involves public consultation, including with relevant stakeholders.”

A State Government Department of State Development spokesman said the Forest Wind proposal “continues to be assessed under the applicable State and Federal Government planning and environmental approvals processes”.

Forest Wind’s project was not met with unanimous support.

Some Fraser Coast and Gympie region residents raised concerns about its size, alleged environmental and fire hazards, and noise pollution particularly in the communities of Poona and Boonooroo.

Criticism was levelled at Forest Wind and the State Government’s consultation process, with these claims rejected by the two organisations.