Latest news with #GreenleafRenewables
The Australian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie scraps $1bn Rockhampton 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. Picture: NewsWire/Nadir Kinani 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. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire 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. Andrew Hedgman Reporter Andrew Hedgman is a journalist for the South Burnett Times. Andrew Hedgman
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Fears Queensland is ‘closed for clean business' as LNP cancels billion-dollar windfarm despite conditional approval
The Liberal National party's axing of a conditionally approved windfarm that could have powered hundreds of thousands of homes risks undermining confidence in the renewable energy sector in Queensland, green and industry groups have warned. Planned for a site 40km north-west of Rockhampton, Greenleaf Renewables' $1bn Moonlight Range Wind Farm Project would have been able to power about 260,000 homes, using 88 260-metre turbines. It also included a grid-scale battery. The project was granted conditional approval by Queensland's State Assessment and Referral Agency in December last year. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email But in January the planning minister, Jarrod Bleijie, called the 450-megawatt project in for reassessment, and then denied it approval last week. The unprecedented decision by Bleijie – who is also the deputy premier – left many warning it would adversely affect the state's clean energy sector. 'Effectively, they're sending the signal that Queensland is closed for clean business,' the Queensland Conservation Council's senior campaigner, Stephanie Gray, said. The Queensland Renewable Energy Council warned that the decision risks undermining confidence among developers, investors, and suppliers across all infrastructure sectors, not just renewable energy. Its CEO, Katie-Anne Mulder, called on the state government to 'clarify how this decision does not set a precedent for other projects that have received state government approvals'. The Labor leader, Steven Miles, accused the premier, David Crisafulli, of having an 'ideological hatred of renewables'. 'They do not like renewables, and that's why they are cancelling these projects. But ultimately, every Queenslander will pay a price through higher power bills,' he said. Bleijie said a local council and about 88% of local residents who made submissions through the planning process opposed the Moonlight Range windfarm. Bleijie said he cancelled the project out of concern about planned clearing of native vegetation and a lack of off-site workers' accommodation. The windfarm would have required clearing about 434 hectares (1,072 acres) of regulated vegetation in an area that has been 'heavily impacted by historical land clearing, primarily for cattle grazing', according to its environmental impact statement. Greenleaf Renewables has been contacted for comment. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Gray called on the state government to expedite planning for the state's renewable energy zones, to restore certainty. 'We want renewable energy projects to drive a balance in our energy mix,' Crisafulli said on Monday. 'They have to treat communities with respect and decency, and they have to be there for the long term in supporting those communities.' The LNP member for Mirani, Glen Kelly, said the voices of regional Queenslanders 'who host these projects in their back yard' were 'finally being heard'. 'Under Labor, local residents affected by these projects had no say, and concerns around the impacts on their communities were ignored,' he said. Earlier this month, Bleijie sponsored legislation which would make it more difficult for renewables proponents to win environmental approval. The LNP claims the legislation will establish a level playing field between green project and mining proposals. The government also plans to extend the life of Queensland's coal fleet 'indefinitely', according to the premier, and review the state's emissions reduction target. The LNP has also signalled a much more lenient attitude towards resource projects. The resources minister, Dale Last, told parliament earlier this year: 'I have been saying to the gas companies in this state: 'I'll sign. You drill.'' The windfarm's cancellation comes weeks after the government announced a plan to cut funding for the Queensland Environmental Defenders Office from $500,000 to zero, breaking an election promise.
7NEWS
26-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Wind farm near Rockhampton scrapped in landmark community win
Queensland 's controversial $1 billion Moonlight Range Wind Farm — planned to power more than 260,000 homes — has been officially cancelled by the state government. The project, which included up to 88 giant turbines spread across 1269 hectares, was set to be built about 40km northwest of Rockhampton. Despite receiving planning approval in late 2024, Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie scrapped the project, citing new LNP government laws that prioritise community consultation and give local councils more say on major developments. The new rules mean renewable energy proposals will be subject to the same level of scrutiny as mining and agriculture projects. In January, Bleijie issued a 'call-in notice' to pause the wind farm — along with three others — pending public feedback. He formally announced the cancellation on Monday following the government-led review. 'For too long, Queensland communities were ignored by Labor's failed laws, which shut them out of the approvals process for renewable energy projects proposed to be built in their backyard,' said Bleijie. 'Queenslanders deserve to have a say on any major development in their local community, which is why our government introduced new nation-leading laws to give them a voice on issues that impact the future of their towns. 'Today's announcement highlights how these laws are already helping to level the playing field by ensuring councils and communities have a seat at the decision-making table.' The project, proposed by Greenleaf Renewables, included not only wind turbines but also a large-scale battery storage system. While giant wind turbines produce emission-free electricity when the wind blows, their visual impact and large land usage raise valid community and environmental concerns. 'If communities support these projects, they will proceed,' Bleijie said. During the government-led, 40-day public consultation period, more than 550 submissions were received and found that 85 per cent of the community submissions opposed the wind farm. Member for Mirani Glen Kelly, who has been vocal in opposing the project, welcomed the decision as a win for regional Queenslanders. 'Today is a great day for the Mirani electorate!' Kelly said. 'The Moonlight Range project would have cleared 741 hectares of remnant and critical habitat vegetation and involved blasting the tops off ranges to install turbines.' He credited the LNP government with restoring power to regional voices, adding that the previous Labor government's planning rules had sidelined communities. However, major renewable projects in Queensland have now been scrapped and past initiatives, such as the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro projec t, have been cancelled, leaving a growing gap in the state's energy grid. 'Every Queenslander will pay a price through higher power bills,' Opposition Leader Steven Miles said.
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie scraps $1bn Rockhampton 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. 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.' 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.
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
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.
