Millmerran Skylab Punchs Creek solar farm approved by Australian government

A farmer next door to a solar farm approved by the federal government in regional Queensland this week said the region is a “sitting duck” to renewable energy projects keen to plug in to the local power station. He’s calling for more consultation.

Skylab has been approved for a 800MW solar farm located close to Millmerran power station at Punch's Creek. May 17, 2024.

As the Australian government ticks off another solar farm in south west Queensland, a neighbouring farmer is calling for more community consultation, saying they are “sitting ducks to these developments” wanting to plug in to the local power infrastructure.

Last week Skylab’s Punchs Creek solar farm was given the green light by the federal government, with the project expected to generate power for up to 300,000 Queensland homes.

The 800 megawatt farm will include a 250 megawatt battery energy storage system with the installation of 1.7 million solar PV panels.

While a statement from the Minister of Environment Tanya Plibersek said this was a “big step” in making “Australia a renewable energy superpower” a Millmerran farmer with a neighbouring property said the community needs more consultation over the impacts of the project to the area.

David Curtis of Bellevue at Millmerran in Queensland. June 2017. Picture: JAMES WAGSTAFF

“From a local perspective, Millmerran is a sitting duck for these developments especially with the station and lines here, making it is easy for the renewables to plug in and get going,” he said.

The solar farm would located within 30km of the existing Millmerran power station with access to Powerlink

According to Skylab’s website the project will be built in two phases and already has “significant support from the community”.

Skylab's plans for a 800MW solar farm in Punch's Creek.

Millmerran farmer and owner of Bellevue Grazing Company David Curtis, however, said “very little” consultation has happened, with some letters sent out in the past, but most of it within the last week, after the approval was given.

Mr Curtis, also chairman of Millmerran Landcare, expressed concerns that even though the land was cleared, it remained high productive soil, wanted to know how it would affect property values and local climate, and what the plan was for discarding the solar panels.

“As a community we’d love to be sat down and for the community to engage with how are affected,” Mr Curtis said.

It comes as the Southwest Queensland is projected to host some of the largest offshore renewable energy sites in Australia.

Skylab has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Millmerran Skylab Punchs Creek solar farm approved by Australian government