Lotus Creek Wind Farm project before Isaac Regional Council

A vital step has been reached in the construction of a new wind farm between Mackay and Rockhampton that will be capable of powering about 189,000 homes per year.

Isaac Regional Council documents state the plants will supply about 55,000 cubic metres of concrete, with the majority of the material required for the footings of the 46 turbine towers. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Construction will soon begin on the $1bn Lotus Creek Wind Farm with the council approving an application to build three temporary concrete batching plants.

Isaac Regional Council documents state the plants will supply about 55,000 cubic metres of concrete, with the majority of the material required for the footings of the 46 turbine towers.

The Lotus Creek Farm, which received federal government approval in late 2022, will be built on ex cattle grazing land along Croydon Rd on the Nebo-Connors Range 20km west of St Lawrence, or about 175km northwest of Rockhampton.

Each of the 46 wind turbines will be capable of producing 7MW of energy, and together can generate enough renewable power each year to supply about 189,000 homes.

The location of Vestas Development's Lotus Creek Wind Farm in Central Queensland. Picture: lotuscreekwindfarm.com.au/

“The applicant intends for only one batch plant location to be in operation at any one time with the single mobile plant set to move progressively between batch locations as construction work progresses,” documents state.

Documents lodged prior to the wind farm’s approval state the project will take about 24 months to build with up to 350 staff to be employed during the peak construction period.

There are several tenders currently open for the project which include maintenance providers for the accommodation camp, assembly of core wind turbine components, electrical work, earthmoving and more.

Once complete the Vestas Development wind farm is expected to have an operational life of 30 years.

“The project proposes to produce clean and low-cost electricity using the consistent winds in the nearby ranges, whilst allowing cattle farming to continue for future generations,” the Lotus Creek Wind Farm website states.

“The site sits within the Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) that has been identified by the Queensland Government to help coordinate the development of renewable energy in high-potential areas.”

The federal government approval for the project, which expires in 2077, stated the approval holder could not clear more than 399ha of land within the development footprint including no more than 341ha of koala habitat, 16ha of squatter pigeon breeding habitat, 32ha of squatter foraging habitat, and 49ha of greater glider habitat.