Moonlight Range Wind Farm’s future in doubt, Mirani MP Glen Kelly calls for axe

A billion dollar Qld renewables development is in jeopardy after hundreds of public submissions have expressed their opposition.

The future of an approved billion dollar wind farm is now in question as a newly elected state MP calls for it to be axed.

Months after Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used extraordinary powers to initiate a parliamentary call-in for the Moonlight Range Wind Farm project west of Rockhampton, Mirani MP Glen Kelly said 85 per cent of 550 submissions opposed the development.

“Now it’s up to the deputy premier to have his say whether the project goes ahead,” Mr Kelly.

Mr Kelly, who has been open about his opposition to another wind farm near his home in 2023, made his preference for the Moonlight Range project’s cancellation clear.

“It should never have been recognised as the right place,” Mr Kelly said.

“I’ve said from the start that this was not the place for a wind farm … I’ve consistently said that the community should get their say on these projects, and they’ve spoken on this one.”

Newly-elected Mirani MP Glen Kelly who has been open about his opposition to several wind farm projects said the $1bn Moonlight Range Wind Farm renewable development should be cut. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Mr Kelly said placing wind farms on top of the Great Dividing Range at sites like Moonlight Range was interfering with remnant vegetation.

“A lot of the timber still on them mountains is because of a reason,” he said.

“It’s there because nature has made it be there. The farmers would have tried to get to it years ago but couldn’t - that was nature’s way of saying don’t touch it.

“Yet we have overseas developers come in and they were just doing whatever they want.”

The developer of Moonlight Range, Greenleaf Renewables, was registered as an Australian private company in 2021 and is developing five wind farm projects across Queensland including the Elphinstone Wind Farm south west of Mackay.

The development will include 88 wind turbines up to 280m in height and, according to Greenleaf Renewables, will generate enough energy to power 260,000 homes.

The Lotus Creek Wind Farm is another huge renewables project, earmarked for the Nebo-Connors Range between St Lawrence in the east, and Lotus Creek in the west.

When Mr Kelly was asked if he thought the benefits of renewable energy outweighed the damage of land clearing and habitat loss, he said land clearing usually occurred on already, or previously, cleared land.

“When it comes to remnant vegetation, farmers can’t touch that and if they do they can finish up in jail or a hell of a fine,” Mr Kelly said.

“When you have these developers and projects such as wind farms Clark Creek, Lotus Creek … and there’s a lot of remnant vegetation in there and I think when a farmer kills one tree he can get into trouble.

“A developer can wipe out thousands of acres and it doesn’t seemed to be of concern to anyone.”

Mr Kelly said voters in Mirani were looking for someone to speak out against these projects and said “people are realising with education, with renewable projects it’s not the green dream and saving the planet.”

“A lot of it’s about money,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said farmers recognised the importance of protecting the reef, but did not link bleaching events to the changing climate. (Photo by Violeta J Brosig / Minderoo Foundation / AFP)

Mr Kelly also highlighted potential harm to the Great Barrier Reef and said “these renewable energy projects” blow up the “tops of most pristine mountains and taking up the 30m off the tops of these mountains … and no consideration into controlling the sediment run off”.

“Obviously the developers do not care about the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

When asked how he intended to preserve the Great Barrier Reef from climate change Mr Kelly said “the climate will always change” and “a rush can do more harm than good”.

“When it comes to climate change I’m a big believer of just settle down, more research into it,” Mr Kelly said, later stressing the importance of coal power to Queensland.

The fate of Moonlight Range Wind Farm now rests with the deputy premier.

Greenleaf Renewables have been contacted for comment.