Kalapa farmers to take wind farm rally to Brisbane
A group of Central Queensland farmers will take their fight against a major renewables project to Brisbane to have their voices heard.
Rockhampton
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A group of Central Queensland farmers impacted by renewable energy projects being built on their land will take their cause to Brisbane to have their voices heard.
As farmers and stakeholders got ready to hear about the key issues impacting rural communities at the Courier-Mail Bush Summit, a “peaceful rally” gathered outside the event at the Great Western Hotel.
Members of the Kalapa and Wycarbah Local Action Group rallied their troops within 48 hours for their demonstration against the Moah Creek Wind Farm.
Sixth generation Kalapa grazier Glen Kelly said the group was not against renewable energy, but were “dead against” the “destruction” the projects caused to the environment.
“These industrial zones are going into heavily timbered areas, areas where our wildlife live, like koalas and greater gliders, there’s also bone scrub which there is not much left of except on top of those hills and in the steepness of gorges,” he said.
“It’s going to be a peaceful rally, we’ll be there for when the people arrive to show them and help them understand what’s going on in this pristine area of Kalapa.”
Mr Kelly said the group would gather outside state parliament on Tuesday to continue having their voices heard.
“We are starting to get a revolution come up the east coast of Australia from the south and the north, and us groups are starting to come together and we are starting to be heard,” he said.
“We believe what we are doing is right, we are sticking together on that because it’s ridiculous pushing the tops off remnant vegetation mountains out in my area.
“We’re here for the fight and we’re here for the journey.”
Greg Bennett, a cattle farmer west of Calliope, said there was a solar farm proposed at the eastern boundary of his property.
He said once the facility is built he would have to drive eight kilometres of panels to get to their house, with the property only having one access.
“Our house is 500 metres from the boundary, anyone who thinks that’s acceptable is dreaming,” he said.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s destroying our family, we’ve been advised we’ll suffer at least a 30 per cent devaluation on our property. Would you want to buy a property you’ve got to drive through eight kilometres of panel to get to and look at 12 kilometres of panel on your boundary?”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was quizzed about renewables at the Bush Summit and said there was a delicate balance between the present and future of energy.
She said the state’s economy was “on the cusp of the biggest renewable energy revolution that our state and our country has ever seen”.
Ms Palaszczuk was also quizzed on if landholders could feel safe and adequately compensated if renewable energy companies came knocking on their doors.
“I think there’s a lot of communication that does happen and if there are issues with some people outside, then we are more than happy to put them into contact with the relevant departments,” she said.
Earlier this month the State Government announced a review of the requirements for wind farm developments in Queensland was underway.
The Wind Farm Code and accompanying guidelines will be reviewed to better protect areas of high ecological and biodiversity value, protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impact of construction, identify and assess viable haulage routes upfront, bring acoustic criteria into line with current best practice approaches, highlight rehabilitation requirements and expectations and require proponents to investigate the impact their construction will have on local workforces and accommodation.
The State Code guideline will be amended to reflect the changes and provide clarity on how to frame and support applications, to align with the code.
The proposed changes opened for community consultation on August 7 and will remain open until September 4.
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