Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle says ‘careful balance’ needed in Queensland wind farm crackdown

An outback mayor whose local wind farm has just been ‘paused’ by the state government has cautiously welcomed the move, but is urging a ‘careful balance’ to avoid damaging investment.

Wind turbines at Windlab's Kennedy Energy Park near Hughenden. The park is the only active wind farm in the Flinders Shire, but it could soon have big company if six other proposals get approved.

An outback mayor whose local wind farm has just been ‘paused’ by the state government has cautiously welcomed the move, but is urging a ‘careful balance’ to avoid damaging investment in the industry.

Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle acknowledged the temporary four-month pause placed on three wind farm proposals last week, as the Queensland government starts the process of tightening renewable energy planning laws.

“I think it’s good that the government is committed to establishing robust approval processes for wind energy projects,” Ms Peddle said.

“However, it’s equally important these processes do not stifle investment opportunities in the sector... we need to strike a careful balance that encourages growth while ensuring the communities and local councils receive their fair share of benefits.”

The three paused projects are the 1400MW Wongalee wind farm in the Flinders Shire, the 1100MW Theodore wind farm in the Banana Shire, and the 1400MW Bungaban wind farm in the Western Downs Region.

Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle says her council doesn’t have an “ideological belief in alternative energy”, but they are happy to diversify our economical gains” with wind farms.

Wongalee is just one of six wind farm projects hoping to set themselves up in the Flinders Shire.

If all six wind farms are approved and built, they would be generating an incredible 9700MW in combined power, creating a booming wind farm industry in the Flinders Shire.

To put that in perspective, the Snowy Hydro scheme generates 4100MW.

Mayor Peddle said she believes the four-month pause was about giving communities a ‘stronger say’ around where wind farms went.

Port of Townsville workers inspect a 70 metre wind turbine blades, bound for Hughenden.

Ms Peddle’s wishlist for the government’s wind farm crackdown includes the creation of a standardised community benefit fund for councils hosting renewable energy projects, and ‘open lines of communication’ between councils and state government.

“As a council, it’s our job to get the best for the community,” Ms Peddle said.

“Whether it’s a wind farm or any other development, it needs to be done right.”

Brisbane, 04 January 2025. Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Supplied

ENERGY TIMELINE:

October 26 - LNP win state election. One of their election promises is to ‘ensure renewable energy projects are impact assessable with approval processes consistent with other land uses like mining’

November 5 - Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie scraps the Pioneer Burdekin hydro scheme

November 28 - Energy minister David Janetzki announces $1.4 billion, five-year “energy maintenance guarantee” to prop up Queensland’s coal generators

January 16 - Mr Bleijie’s office orders planning officials to pause their consideration of three wind farm projects (Wongalee, Theodore, and Bungaban) for the next four months.

January 16 - Bleijie’s office proposes Rockhampton’s Moonlight Range Wind Farm be ‘called-in’ and subjected to extra assessment criteria

According to the Queensland Government, the ‘call-in’ notice means submissions will be open for 40 days for Rockhampton residents and council staff to submit if the Moonlight wind farm meets ‘state interests’.

The pausing of the three other wind farms serves the purpose of giving the developers time to “demonstrate that the appropriate community consultation and impact assessments have been undertaken”, a department source said.

Originally published as Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle says ‘careful balance’ needed in Queensland wind farm crackdown