Munna Creek Solar Farm: Residents angry at damage to local roads

The Gympie council has distanced itself from the $160million Munna Creek Solar Farm, rightfully pointing out that it had no say in the approval of the project and no obligation to fund road repairs near it, but that it did share the concerns of residents.

Fraser Coast council has revealed an alternative creek crossing point will be established near the Munna Creek solar farm, featuring a new metal vehicular bridge to replace the existing bridge, which has a 10-tonne weight limit. This new access and bridge will accommodate the heavier equipment and traffic loads generated bythe construction of the solar farm. The replacement bridge design is currently being finalised by the developer.

Gympie Regional Council has distanced itself from any responsibility for road maintenance near the $160 million Munna Creek Solar Farm.

Mayor Glen Hartwig said in a statement issued on Monday, March 10, the project was located within the Fraser Coast Regional Council local government area and Gympie Regional Council had no say in its approval.

“Gympie Regional Council shares the concerns raised by residents about the road damage and level of use on Blowers Road and Glen Echo Road,” Mr Hartwig said.

“Council has made representations to Fraser Coast Regional Council and the Munna Creek Solar Farm to call for action to repair the impacted roads which have been used as unofficial transport routes throughout construction.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said his council would continue to meet with the developers of the Munna Creek Solar Farm and Fraser Coast council over maintenance of the roads near the project.

“Council is continuing to meet with Fraser Coast Council and Munna Creek Solar Farm to ensure the right outcome for Gympie residents.”

The Fraser Coast council said late last week it would build a new bridge near the solar farm, after maintenance of the nearby access roads became a hot potato between it and the neighbouring Gympie council.

The renewable energy project north west of Gympie sits almost on the boundary of the two council areas, and local residents have become increasingly desperate for someone to take ownership of properly maintaining the roads leading into the facility that have become damaged and some say unsafe because of the heavy traffic and equipment involved in construction.

A Fraser Coast council spokesman confirmed the council managed Blowers Road, which was “required to be upgraded as per conditions of the Solar Farm approval to a standard that will withstand the heavy loads generated by the solar farm construction and equipment”.

Fraser Coast council has revealed an alternative creek crossing point will be established near the Munna Creek solar farm, featuring a new metal vehicular bridge to replace the existing bridge, which has a 10-tonne weight limit. This new access and bridge will accommodate the heavier equipment and traffic loads generated bythe construction of the solar farm. The replacement bridge design is currently being finalised by the developer.

“Recent heavy rainfall further deteriorated sections of the road undergoing improvements,” the statement said.

“However, we received confirmation yesterday (March 4) that these sections have been repaired, and appropriate temporary traffic management measures are now in place.

“No alternative road is being built, nor is one planned.

“However, an alternative creek crossing point will be established featuring a new metal vehicular bridge to replace the existing bridge, which has a 10-tonne weight limit (see schematic map above).

“This new access and bridge will accommodate the heavier equipment and traffic loads generated by the construction of the solar farm.”

“The replacement bridge design is currently being finalised by the developer.”

Construction is nearing completion on the $160+ million, 120MW solar farm that will help power Telstra and tens of thousands of homes, but the impact on Blowers and Glen Echo Road has not been appreciated by local motorists and a public meeting was held with the developer on Wednesday night.

Multi-national renewable energy developer Mytilineos acquired the project, after it was originally developed by Renewable Energy System Technologies Pty Ltd. It is being built on 255ha of an overall 470ha project area on Blowers Road.

Munna Creek solar farm north west of Gympie.

Locals complained that the Gympie council was ignoring their pleas to fix and maintain Blowers Road and Glen Echo Road.

“We are having trouble getting Gympie council to maintain Glen Echo Road that is being used by all the heavy equipment, trucks of all sizes every day into the Munna Creek Solar Farm,” one local resident said.

“The road is not safe for our residents to travel because of the amount of heavy equipment and trucks that has put the road into a very poor condition.

The invitation sent out by Metlen to a community evening on the Munna Creek solar farm.

The Munna Creek solar farm will generate 300,000 megawatt hours per year of sustainable, clean energy to power 41,100 average Australian homes, according to a statement on the project’s website.

Construction at 493 Blowers Road, Munna Creek, began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed by June of this year.

Athens-based Mytilineos SA secured $160 million in debt for the 120MW Munna Creek solar project in late 2023, early 2024.

The Gympie Times has also contacted Gympie Regional Council communications and Mayor Glen Hartwig for response.