Bulli Creek: Qld government to co-respond to appeal of work camp for massive solar farm near Millmerran

Queensland government has stepped into a legal battle over what would become Australia's largest solar farm, as the project continues to divide residents.

The state government has revealed why it has involved itself in a court case surrounding what would be Australia’s largest solar farm.

The Queensland government has elected to be a co-respondent in Doug Hall Poultry’s appeal of an approved 800-person work camp to support the construction of the Bulli Creek solar project near Millmerran.

The camp proposal by developer Genex Power was given the green light by the Toowoomba Regional Council, but the recent action in the planning and environment court could see it derailed if the appeal is upheld.

In a statement to News Corp, a Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning spokeswoman said it had decided to co-respond given the proposed work camp sat near a road the state government maintained.

3D rendering of proposed Bulli Creek Solar Farm near Millmerran by company Solar Choice. Photo Contributed

“The development application was referred to SARA (State Assessment and Referral Agency) due to the site’s proximity to the state controlled road network,” she said.

“SARA has joined the appeal involving Doug Hall Poultry Pty Ltd and Toowoomba Regional Council to ensure the state’s interest relating to traffic are protected.”

The solar farm’s first stage will have an output of 775 megawatts, and once finished Genex says it will be “the largest grid connected solar farm in Australia once in operation”.

The project has continued to divide residents, with concerns about its potential impacts on farmland mixed in sentiment showcasing how energy has remained a constant culture war in Australia.

Of the more than 3000 comments about the proposal across both online and social media, a huge chunk said they backed the poultry farm in its legal action.

Other argued solar would be better employed by installing it on the top of existing infrastructure rather than on agricultural land.

What you had to say:

Opposition to Using Agricultural Land:

Adam O’Keefe

Put it in Melbourne or a capital city. Leave the country alone.

Alison Waltho

Governments & Bureaucrats today have a lame birdbrain mentality for the one & only agenda to appease the hand that feeds them … Not to serve the people! Same NZ.

Gail Taylor

No it’s ridiculous, to use land when roofs are there to use stop ruining our country paddocks.

Liz Young

We have kilometres of arid unproductive land in Australia. Why on earth are they putting infrastructure close to farming country?

Sharon McLean

Put solar over irrigation channels like they do in India on swing arms. Reduces green algae growth and evaporation.

Support for poultry farm:

Adam Palmer

I support the farmers …

Andrew Judd

Good on them. I hope they win.

Lorraine Baker

Good. Hope they win

Julie Jones

Keep fighting everyone.

Phil Slatcher

Good farmers standing up for the welfare and future of our country

Alternative suggestions for solar:

Cheryl Anderson

Put the solar farms in the bush near coal mines or rail lines and feed power into batteries on rail cars. Transport night time power to cities via our rail links. No need for long pole and wire infrastructure.

Lesley Gleeson

Why not put them on shopping centre car parks. Shade for cars, and generating power.

Russell Eaton

I have often wondered why solar panels are not fitted onto school roof’s it just seems like so much space going to waste.

Michael Middleton

Locate them right on top of the present grid system, that will lower the cost of the installation.

Miriam White

Just a joke you get next to nothing for the power you feed into the grid, who is this govt trying to kid. It’s all a pipe dream which is costing us big time.