Tumuruu solar farm approved by South Burnett council

Fears about what the South Burnett might look like in years to come were raised as the 673ha Tumuruu solar farm was given an historic go head on Wednesday, but support was not unanimous.

drone shot 3 5B solar farm at Wurrumiyanga Tiwi Islands NT. Picture: Supplied

A 673ha solar farm at Tarameo, near Blackbutt in the South Burnett, has been given the green light by South Burnett council, in a vote that was unanimous except for one councillor.

After months of consultation, council officers compiled a lengthy report and recommended the proposal be approved for Tumuruu Solar at the council’s November ordinary meeting.

“I’ve been right through it, I’ve left no stone unturned,” councillors were told before the vote.

“I’ve checked every relevant matter, every state policy, every council policy and made sure I’ve fully understood.”

Acting Mayor Gavin Jones said through his own dealings with people in the area, it was clear to him most people were in favour of the project.

“A huge majority of the people want it and are in favour of it,” Mr Jones said.

Acting Mayor Gavin Jones and mayoral candidate Kathy Duff were on opposing sides of the table when the South Burnett Regional Council approved the Tumuruu Solar Farm on November 22, 2023.

In 2018, the council voted down the development application for a proposed solar farm in Kingaroy.

After lodging an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court, the company was successful and was eventually given the green light, which cost ratepayers.

Despite this, councillor Kathy Duff voted against the new development.

Ms Duff said some residents were concerned their land would be devalued as a result of the solar farm.

She also raised concerns about what the landscape of the South Burnett would look like into the future.

“Our area is going to be an area of renewables, it’s not going to look like it looks now. It’s gonna be a sea of solar farms, wind farms and things like that,” she said.

Councillor Kathy Duff opposed the application for a new solar farm near Blackbutt during the South Burnett Regional Council meeting on Wednesday. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Councillor Scott Henschen was satisfied with the report and questioned any councillor voting against it.

“We’ve been in this position before and I ask the question, it ticks all the boxes and if council were to not support this, at what cost is that to the rate payer? Are they entitled to take us to court again?”

The answer he received was a quick yes.

“There you go … you can follow all rules and regulations and tick all those boxes, that’s a very, very bold council to spend the rate payers money in court, where we will lose.”

Mr Jones conceded some people in the region were still against the solar farm.

“Some of them are not 100 per cent, haven’t been convinced and they don’t want to. Some have certainly changed their mind,” he said.

He addressed the Kingaroy solar farm controversy and agreed it had turned a lot of people off renewable energy, or solar farms, but argued there were distinct differences.

“It’s further out of town, it's not on agricultural A class land … it’s not good country,” he said.

Because of the extensive consultation and the lengthy report compiled by council officers, Mr Jones argued it would be difficult to justify voting no.

“You have to have an extremely, extremely good case to oppose it,” he said.

Councillor Kirstie Schumacher supported the project and said the company had worked to resolve any concerns that were addressed in the consultation period, and credited the company for “walking the talk”.

Councillor Kirstie Schumacher credits Tumuruu Solar for “walking the talk” as she voted in favour of the new solar farm project. Â Photo/Holly Cormack.

When it came to voting, all but Ms Duff voted yes.

“On principal, I’m not going to support this,” Ms Duff said, as she voted no.

Mr Jones, Ms Schumacher, Jane Erkens, Danita Potter and Scott Henschen all voted yes.

Tumuruu Solar said about 10 per cent of the project cost would be injected into the local community during the year-long construction.

The company said it estimated the construction would support up to 100 jobs over the 12-18 months and local residents would have the opportunity to work on the project.

The solar panels would be “ultra low profile” at one metre as the highest point off the ground. The company plans to plant vegetated buffers to “maintain a pleasant outlook for neighbouring residents”.

The company also said operational noise would be inaudible to surrounding residents when the solar farm was up and running.

The construction start date is yet to be confirmed but is expected to commence in 2024.

Originally published as Tumuruu solar farm approved by South Burnett council