Southern Downs farmer calls out MP James Lister energy bill speech on wind farms

James Lister MP has been called out by a Southern Downs farmer claiming the politician made ‘inaccurate’ and ‘unnecessarily provocative’ comments during a recent legislative assembly. Full details here.

Renewable energy projects in the Southern Downs were in the firing line during a speech given by a local MP during recent Queensland parliament sittings.

The May 21 legislative assembly, which discussed the proposed Cheaper Energy Bill, saw Member for Southern Downs James Lister slam the need for wind farms in the region.

Mr Lister claimed that much of the Southern Downs region was an inappropriate place for wind farms.

“I’ve listened to communities in Allora and Greymare, and I understand there are two sides to every story but the general thing is that community discords are fostered by the way in which these things are happening,” Mr Lister said.

“Good people should be able to live without these things around their places, move them way out west and stick them on one landholder’s land and that way no one else can see them and that landholder gets all the benefits and disadvantages.

“I know I’m speaking for the majority of people in my electorate of Southern Downs and I ask that the state government reconsider renewable energy zones and include communities and local government more closely in consultation about these things.”

James Lister MP, Queensland parliament Question Time, Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Lister stated loss of amenity, views, disadvantages of property value decline, construction and biosecurity hazards were among the concerns brought to him by landholders in the Allora and Greymare area.

A Warwick farmer has now hit back at Mr Lister’s parliamentary speech, claiming that he felt the politician inadequately represented the views of some Southern Downs landholders.

Wingarra Pastoral Co director Jamie McDonald told Warwick Daily News he felt the community meeting at Greymare did not include any landholders considering hosting wind turbines.

“Mr Lister’s speech to parliament on Tuesday therefore only relates to the views of 50 or so residents that live in the rural zoned area of Greymare, which is not being considered for wind turbine development,” Mr McDonald’s letter said.

“These residents can already see the turbines from MacIntyre which at the closest point are approximately 5km from where they live.”

In response to Mr McDonald’s concerns, Mr Lister said he encouraged all landholders to attend the Greymare meeting and disagreed his speech was in any way inaccurate or provocative.

“I didn’t call the community wind farm meetings in Allora and Greymare, I was invited to attend to respond to the concerns of locals,” he said.

MacIntyre Wind Farm southwest of Warwick has continued to stir up landholders in the Southern Downs region as more farmers are approached to host wind turbines on their land. Photo: Supplied

“However I contacted local wind farm supporting landowners, including Mr McDonald’s wife, before the Greymare meeting to hear their opinions directly, and to encourage them to attend.

“The Labor state government has created a renewable energy zone over our electorate of Southern Downs, and this benefits those who want to be paid to put up wind generators, and disadvantages locals who object and who would not be paid, but would still suffer the downside.

“It’s my job to speak up about those concerns.”

On May 23 Mr Lister wrote to Energy Minister Mick de Brenni to shed further light on the concerns raised by the Southern Downs community and the impact the Renewable Energy Zones will have on the region.

“I think that for the state Labor government to curtail the voice of local people and local councils in this way is wrong,” Mr Lister said.

“It divides communities, and I have a duty to speak up about how that concerns people.

“That is why I have spoken up in parliament and written to the Energy Minister to express the concerns raised with me.

“I have asked him to get his department to provide local community wind farm briefing and feedback sessions for the communities around Allora and Greymare, I think that’s fair enough.

“I have a job to do, and that includes giving public voice to the concerns raised with me by the people of Southern Downs about what they call “wind farms without consultation and compensation”.

A full copy of the letter sent to Mr de Brenni has been published online.