Moonlight Range wind farm axed by Queensland government

The Deputy Premier has used his planning powers to ‘call-in’ the renewables project in central Queensland over community concerns.

A renewables project north of Rockhampton has been axed. Picture: AFP

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An approved $1bn wind farm project slated to be delivered in central Queensland has been axed after the state government intervened over community concerns.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used state planning powers to “call-in” Greenleaf Renewable’s 88-wind turbine project at Moonlight Range, 40km north of Rockhampton, which was approved by the state’s planning department in December 2024.

A 40-day community consultation period, launched after the Liberal National government’s proposed call-in intervention on the project in January, received more than 550 submissions, of which 85 per cent called for a further review of the project.

Mr Bleijie said regional communities had been ignored for too long.

“We think an equal and fair policy (is needed),” Mr Bleijie said.

“Just like the resource sector, the agriculture sector, the gas sector have to get certain approvals and community buy-in and community support, so should renewable energy projects.

“If communities support these projects, they will proceed.”

The Moonlight Range Wind Farm received planning approval from the State Assessment and Referral Agency in December 2024. The 1269ha project was set to generate 450 megawatts of power, alongside battery storage, and provide energy to more than 260,000 homes.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, Treasurer David Janetzki and Housing Minister Sam O’Connor. Picture: Evan Morgan

Labor Opposition Leader Steven Miles said the “ideological decision” would only lead to higher power bills for Queenslanders.

“We want to see all of these projects go through appropriate processes, including hearing from the local community,” Mr Miles said.

“But that’s not what’s happened here. This is David Crisafulli and the LNP in projecting their ideological bias, their ideological hatred of renewables.

“The fact is, if we want to deliver cheaper energy into the future, we need solar and wind and storage.”

Premier David Crisafulli said his government backed renewables so long as their proponents “treat communities with respect”.

In January, when he issued the call-in proposal, Mr Bleijie also ordered a four-month pause on three wind farm applications – Bungaban wind farm, Wongalee wind farm and Theodore wind farm.

Queensland Renewable Energy Council chief executive Katie-Anne Mulder said the government must “clarify how this decision does not set a precedent for other projects that have received state government approvals”.

Last month, state Energy Minister and Treasurer David Janetzki said the government would repeal legislated renewable targets of 50 per cent by 2030; 70 per cent by 2032; and 80 per cent by 2035, but said there was still a “pathway” towards net zero by 2050.

This was followed by the introduction of new legislation in parliament that would force proponents of renewable energy projects to consult with communities before they could apply for development approval.

Queensland’s Conservation Council also had reservations about the project at Moonlight Ridge regarding its impacts on remnant forest and threatened species habitat.

But QCC senior campaigner Stephanie Gray said the state government must introduce accelerated renewable energy zones to bolster investment by the sector by providing greater certainty.

“It’s obviously very important that renewable energy projects are well sited and benefit the local community,” Ms Gray said.

“One of the key solutions to responsibly managing the rollout of well-sited renewable energy projects is for the Crisafulli government to deliver renewable energy zones that map where it’s appropriate to build projects.”

The LNP government scrapped the former Labor government's Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro project after significant cost blowouts, but has not yet provided details on its promised smaller schemes.