Update in approvals process for Theodore Wind Farm

A new wind farm proposed to be built near a rural Queensland town will require further assessment before it can be given the green light.

The Theodore Wind Farm will require further assessment before it can go ahead. Picture: Dominic Elsome

A 170-turbine wind farm project pegged for a rural Central Queensland town will require further assessment before it can be given the go ahead.

The Theodore Wind Farm will require assessment and approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act via a public environment report after it was deemed a controlled action by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

According to the proposal documents, which were lodged with DCCEEW in June, clearing of vegetation would need to occur for the construction of the wind farm.

The document said the clearing of vegetation could result in direct impacts to matters of national environmental significance through the remove of habitat, direct impacts on flora and fauna and “the disruption of ecological processes”.

The document also stated there could be potential bird and bat collision risks once the wind turbines were operational.

If approved, the wind farm, which is expected to have a life of up to 35 years, would include up to 170 turbines with a tip height of 270 metres and a rotor diameter of 175m.

The wind farm would be built about 22 kilometres east of the Theodore, which is a two-and-a-half hour drive south of Rockhampton or 50km south of Biloela.

Once operational the project would generate enough electricity to power about 410,000 Queensland homes, which is equivalent to powering all private dwellings in the Banana Shire close to 57 times, or the city of Rockhampton more than 15 times.

The wind farm would also include battery energy storage systems, meteorological masts and operations and maintenance facilities.

The documents for the wind farm were submitted on behalf of Theodore Energy Development Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RWE Renewables Europe and Australia.

Meanwhile a proposed solar power station to be built next to the Callide Power Station will not be required to undergo further assessment under the EPBC Act before it can go ahead.

Plans for the Callide Solar Power Station were lodged with DCCEEW last month.

According to the document, the project, proposed by Edify Energy, would be 200MW Solar Photovoltaic Farm, with a 200MW/800MWh Battery Energy Storage System.

The company also intends to co-locate sheep grazing with the project area following construction of the facility.