Queensland to become home to one of the world’s largest onshore wind farms after $2bn investment

Queensland is set to home one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world after a $2 billion investment that will see a southeast wind farm double in size.

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Queensland’s largest wind precinct is set to double in size as the state government has announced an additional $2bn set to be invested in the new wind project.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the development of a new 1000MW Herries Range Wind Farm to be built within the MacIntyre Wind Precinct, west of Warwick, that will bring the precinct value to $4bn.

“As we transition out of our coal fired power energy plans, they’ll be transformed into clean energy hubs and what we see behind us today is the future,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The 180 new turbines would support up to 600 jobs for the precinct, according to deputy premier Steven Miles.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state’s renewable energy plan was set to have 70 per cent renewable energy in Queensland by 2032, a target which was set to be reviewed and changed every two years.

“This is the clear pathway plan about our renewable energy future and Queenslanders back this plan,” she said.

“We are working very hard and these targets will change.”

The pour of the first concrete wind turbine foundation for MacIntyre Wind Farm.

The Premier said the state was making a “massive change” from being a coal fire powered state to a renewable energy future and blamed the former LNP federal government for working at a “snail’s pace” when dealing with climate change.

“Now we can finally talk about this, because for a decade the federal government failed to do so,” she said.

The 180 new turbines would support up to 600 jobs for the precinct, according to deputy premier Steven Miles, who said the wind farm would become one of the largest onshore wind projects in the world.

One of the giant blades destined for the wind farm.

“Eventually we want to stop importing all of this equipment and start making it here. The scale of our energy and jobs plan makes that possible,” he said.

Mr Miles said the state had seen more than 230 companies express interest in expanding their manufacturing opportunities throughout Queensland to create more jobs and localise production.

Energy minister Mick de Brenni said the expanded MacIntyre Wind Precinct would support local jobs and provide opportunities for surrounding businesses in towns like Warwick, Inglewood and Toowoomba.

“Importantly, it also means another big step towards energy independence, edging closer and closer to a point where our exposure to global fossil fuel markets and their inflationary impact on energy prices will be over,” he said.