Shock move on $1bn wind farm
A $1bn wind farm project in central Queensland has officially been scrapped after Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used ministerial powers to refuse the development application.
The Moonlight Range Wind Farm, proposed by Greenleaf Renewables, was to include 88 turbines and a large battery energy storage system spanning 24 parcels of land at Morinish, about 40km west of Rockhampton.
The project aimed to generate up to 450 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 260,000 homes annually.
Despite receiving state planning department approval in December last year, the project was called in for reassessment by Mr Bleijie in January. The Moonlight Range Wind Farm, proposed by Greenleaf Renewables, was planned to include 88 turbines and a large battery energy storage system spanning 24 parcels of land at Morinish, about 40 kilometres west of Rockhampton. NewsWire/Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia
More than 500 submissions were received - including 142 from local residents - during a two-month public consultation period, with 88 per cent of respondents opposing the development.
Key concerns included pressure the 300 expected construction workers would put on accommodation, inadequate community consultation, environmental risks, and potential bushfire hazards.
Mr Bleijie said the rejection reflected a new approach requiring renewable energy projects to meet the same rigorous approval standards as major developments in other industries such as mining and agriculture.
'If communities support these projects, they will go ahead,' Mr Bleijie said.
'But 88 per cent of local residents opposed the Moonlight Range Wind Farm proceeding.
'We believe renewable energy projects should have the same community buy-in as other sectors.' A $1 billion wind farm project northwest of Rockhampton has been officially cancelled after Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used ministerial powers to refuse the development application. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
The project had promised 300 jobs during construction and about 10 ongoing positions once operational, with construction slated to start in 2026. However, community opposition proved decisive.
Member for Mirani Glen Kelly, who campaigned against the project, said community concerns had been listened to and considered as part of the approval process.
'The voices of regional Queenslanders who host these projects in their backyard are an important state interest and are finally being heard,' Mr Kelly said.
'These large-scale developments impact on local infrastructure, people living and working in these communities and also the natural environment.
The wind farm would have connected to the nearby 275kV Powerlink transmission network to distribute clean energy. However, with the refusal now official, the project will not proceed.
Under the Planning Act, the minister's call-in decision cannot be appealed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
Reason Aussies are working multiple jobs
The post-Covid boom in the number of Aussies working multiple jobs continues as higher cost of living pressures means more workers are taking on a second gig. The Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that in the March quarter there were 963,100 Aussies – or 6.5 per cent of the workforce – who had more than one job. While this is actually down from the previous quarter where 999,500 Australians held multiple jobs, it is still a sharp uptick in workers looking to diversify their incomes compared with the years prior to Covid, where around 5 to 6 per cent of Aussies took on a second gig. Seek senior economist Blair Chapman said the spike in cost-of-living pressures from inflation meant more Australians needed to take on extra work. 'We've really seen cost-of-living, especially for employee households, increase quite a lot over the last couple of years,' he said. Women are more likely to take on multiple roles compared to men. NewsWire / David Mariuz Credit: News Corp Australia 'If you've got a mortgage, those repayments have increased quite a bit over the last couple of years so I suspect people have sought a second job just to reach the higher cost of living recently.' Australians are holding onto their second job despite the overall unemployment rate holding firm in recent months, around the 4.1 per cent mark. The main driving force behind this trend is underemployment meaning workers are getting fewer hours from their primary employer than they'd like. 'We are seeing more people being employed in industries where we tend to see a lot of multiple job holdings,' Mr Chapman said. 'For example, we've seen healthcare and social assistance grow and that is one of the industries where multiple job holdings are most common. Aussies in the healthcare sector are most likely to take on multiple jobs. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia 'That comes down to the nature of the work, where you have shift work and one business may not be able to provide all the hours an employee wants so the individual has to work across multiple sites to get the hours they are desiring.' Many of these multiple job holders are Australians aged between 20-24, with women more likely to hold a second role over males. In contrast older Australians aged between 60 to 64 are the least likely to hold a second role. 'When we look at a lot of the multiple job holders, they tend to be younger. Maybe it is a university aged person who can't work full-time but can work nights and weekends,' Mr Chapman said. 'While maybe it is not the same job but for them it is probably good they can work multiple jobs with flexible hours.'
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
ASX slips after Trump/Musk stoush
Cautious investors sold down the ASX on a quiet day of trading on Friday, despite the US and China resuming trade talks, as markets await critical jobs data out of the US. The benchmark ASX 200 index slipped for the second consecutive day of trading falling by 23.20 points or 0.27 per cent to 8,515.70. The ASX200 has now recorded four consecutive weekly gains. The broader All Ordinaries fell during Friday's trading, down 26.70 points or 0.30 power cent to 8,741.90. The Australian dollar also is down 0.21 per cent and is now buying 64.95 US cents. Nine of the 11 sectors fell during Friday's trading NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia On an overall bleak day on the market, nine of the 11 sectors finished in the red with just energy, industrials and utilities gaining ground. Woodside Energy gained 0.97 per cent to $22.94, while Santos is up 0.61 per cent to $6.58 as the price of Brent crude oil continues to recover over the week's trading. Industrials also had a strong day led by Qantas Airways which jumped 3.46 per cent to $10.76 despite the news Virgin Australia is looking to re-list. Transurban shares also rose 0.63 per cent to $14.38, and Computershares Limited rose 0.83 per cent to $41.08. CBA shares slipped from its record highs down 0.79 per cent to $179.90, Westpac fell 0.24 per cent to $33.18 and ANZ traded 0.44 per cent lower to $29.50. NAB was the only big four bank to finish in the eking out a 0.18 per cent gain and to close Friday's trading at $38.58. eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said initially there was optimism on the markets following 'very good' trade talks between Washington and Beijing. But this quickly changed after a public spat between former friends President Donald Trump and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk. 'This will provide a hit to overall market sentiment, particularly tech, but may not be long-lasting for anyone other than Tesla,' Mr Gilbert said. Australia's sharemarket has now risen four consecutive weeks in a row. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia The overall lower volumes on the ASX comes as investors await the latest payroll data out of the US. 'The uncertain macro backdrop continues to provide a hurdle for risk-on sentiment, and cooling US economic data is leaving investors unassured,' Mr Gilbert said. 'With the labour market heavily in focus, the print this evening will be essential for market direction.' Mr Gilbert said negative economic data released throughout the week could actually help drive the ASX 200 higher. 'The weaker-than-expected GDP data this week also drives the expectation for further rate cuts, further supporting the market optimism,' he said. In corporate news, Worley shares fell 0.46 per cent to $13.08 despite the business announcing it had won a contract with Glenfarne to help support engineering work on its Alaska LNG pipeline. Shares in gold miner West Cobar Metals soared 60 per cent to $0.024 after announcing it has completed the acquisition of the Mystique Gold Project in Fraser Range, Western Australia.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
State's $28m AI plan revealed
The coming AI tidal wave is beginning to hit into Australia's public sector, with the South Australian government announcing a new $28m program to embed the technological revolution into policing, healthcare, finance and law. Treasurer Stephen Mullighan delivered the surprise allocation in the state's 2025-26 budget, with the funding designed to 'maximise on the benefits and promote growing the use of AI applications across the South Australian public sector'. The budget measures claim the program will initially prioritise policing and healthcare with a set of 'proof of value trials'. 'Through targeted proof of value trials in priority areas such as health care and policing, this funding will provide support for broad applications across government and allow multiple use cases to be developed on trusted foundational technologies, with appropriate governance and alignment to the investment principles of the digital investment fund,' the document says. 'The health sector is a priority for funding consideration, as global evidence shows that integrating AI in specific areas of healthcare can reduce costs and improve operational efficiency, allowing healthcare professionals to spend more time on clinical care.' South Australian treasurer Stephen Mullighan (left) with Premier Peter Malinauskas on Thursday. Mr Mullighan has allocated $28m for a new AI program. NewsWire / Dean Martin Credit: News Corp Australia The $28m AI program is spread over four years to 2028-29. NewsWire / Dean Martin Credit: News Corp Australia In policing, the program will look to enhance efficiency and safety for officers. 'AI can be used to support real-time decision making to help allocate resources effectively, increase officer and public safety and reduce administrative burden on officers, freeing up time for more value-added work,' the document states. 'Other areas considered for priority funding may include allied health, social work and legal and financial areas of the public sector.' The program, which sits within the government's broader digital investment fund, is funded from 2025-26 through to 2028-29, with an estimated $4.6m in yearly operating expenses and $2.4m in yearly investing expenses. Twenty full time jobs are expected to deliver the program over the period. South Australia's explicit support for AI comes as all jurisdictions grapple with the promise and peril of AI. In February this year, Queensland Information Commissioner Joanne Kummrow warned taking a 'wait and see' approach to AI risked the public sector 'falling behind understanding and responsibly engaging with its capabilities and challenges'. 'While AI shows promise as a powerful tool capable of delivering improved public services, agencies need to take the 'right path' by mitigating privacy and security risks and ensuring its ethical and transparent use, rather than taking the 'fast lane' without due regard to the necessary guard rails and protection of citizens' personal information,' she posted to the website of the Office of the Information Commissioner. The NSW government, meanwhile, funnelled more than $2.7m in grants to 16 councils in mid 2024 to trial AI in local planning systems. The trials were designed to 'improve the development application process for all users, including homeowners, councils and developers'. Outside of government, South Australia will also deploy AI to develop a fuller picture of its mineral wealth, with a particular focus on copper production in the giant Gawler Craton, which sprawls across the central portion of the state.
