26-05-2025
Moonlight Range Wind Farm project axed by Queensland government
A $1 billion wind farm earmarked for Central Queensland has been axed by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, using ministerial powers.
The Greenleaf Renewables development was to include 88 wind turbines and a battery energy storage system over 24 parcels of land at Morinish, 40 kilometres out of Rockhampton, with a capacity of 450 megawatts to generate energy for 260,000 homes annually.
The company had hoped to start building the Moonlight Range Wind Farm in 2026, with 300 jobs during construction and 10 ongoing jobs on completion.
The project had been approved by the state planning department, State Assessment and Referral Agency, in December 2024.
In a notice dated May 22, Mr Bleijie exercised his ministerial powers to refuse the development application.
He began the process for a "call-in" to reassess the development application in January.
During the two-month call-in notice period, there were 508 representations, including 142 from local residents.
Eighty-eight per cent of residents were against it.
The main concerns in the objections were strain on the accommodation supply from the 300 construction workers, lack of community consultation, and environmental and bushfire hazard impacts.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Bleijie said if communities supported these projects, they would go ahead.
"We think an equal and fair policy is just like the resource sector, the agriculture sector, the gas sector have to get certain approvals and community buy-in and community say, so should renewable energy projects."
LNP Member for Mirani Glen Kelly, who has been campaigning for the project to be axed, said it was "exciting news".
"The communities have to have some say on these projects," he said.
"The minister's decision is final so happy days for the communities in and around Rockhampton who I know have been working hard to block this project."
The notice states a person may not appeal against the minister's decision on a call-in under the Planning Act.
Greenleaf Renewables has been contacted for comment.
