Contents of this page...
Archer Point | Clarke Creek | Coopers Gap | Crows Nest | Dulacca | Forsayth | Herries-MacIntyre | High Road | Kaban | Kennedy/Hughenden | Lakeland | Mount Emerald | Rabbit Ridge | Thursday Island | Windy Hill
Other proposed wind farms | Index | (Off this page: Locations on Google Maps)
Using this page: some hints
This and most other pages of 'Wind in the Bush' are set out like reference books. There is a contents list at the top of each page and at least one index at the bottom of the page. Use these to find the subject you want, or use CTRL F (Command F with Apple) to find words or phrases that interest you. You can also Google search all of Ramblings. All the main pages of 'Wind in the Bush' are listed at the top left of the Wind Home page and each of the states' pages.Introduction
Climate change is the greatest threat facing the world today; wind generated electricity is one of a number of ways that we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuel-generated electricity and therefore reduce our greenhouse gas production and limit climate change.Development of renewables and influence of government
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This all changed when the Labor Palaszczuk government replaced the Newman Liberal-National government in February 2015.
Since that time Queensland has been among the most progressive states in large-scale renewable energy development.
(As mentioned elsewhere on these pages
Liberal governments in Australia are typically opposed to action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.)
The Palaszczuk government has legislated for a 50% renewable energy target by 2030.
Herries-MacIntyre Wind FarmsHerries Range Wind Farm with a capacity of about 1,000MW is to be built near the MacIntyre Wind Farm, 1,026MW, which is already under construction.Renew Economy carried a note in late November 2022 about the two projects. Either one of these two wind farms, if built alone, would be by far the biggest wind farm in Australia. As of the time of writing the biggest operating wind farm is Coopers Gap, at 453MW. These two will more than quadruple that. Goyder Renewable Zone in South Australia, if built, will include up to 2,000MW of wind and 1,000MW of solar. It was in the early stages of construction at the time of writing. There was no definite time-line for completion but Neoen's Net site indicates that the whole project will probably take ten years or so to build. Myalup offshore wind farm in Western Australia, at 1,900MW has been proposed, but it will not be operating until the early 2030s, if ever. |
Archer Point Wind FarmAlternatively called Jalunji Wind Park or Cooktown Wind FarmThis project is proposed by a consortium of IFE Engineering and Wind Power, Queensland (WPQ). WPQ's managing director, Lloyd Stumer, said that it is the best place in Queensland for a wind farm. It is intended to be built on a 2300ha site about 15km south of Cooktown.
Lloyd Stumer has told me (email, 2010/12/16) that WPQ has always been fully aware of the need for a significant grid upgrade and the need for a barge landing facility (not a port) to get the turbines in place. WPQ has been in discussions with all the relevant stakeholders (including all Government departments) for many years concerning these requirements.
Mount Emerald Wind FarmAlso known as Mareeba or Arriga Wind FarmThe wind farm was approved by the Queensland Government in late April 2015 and by the Federal Government in late November 2015.
The wind farm is being built "on the plateau adjacent to the Mount Emerald/Springmount area, approximately half way between Mareeba and Atherton, 5km west of Walkamin." It will be about 50km south-west of Cairns. I was informed that the Arriga site is "ideal ... with a long unobstructed fetch and constant winds" and that it is on private land. Another informant implied that the site was far from ideal and that "There are about 80 residents living under 2km from proposed turbines".
AusPoll conducted a survey of community attitudes to the wind farm in March 2012 and found strong support for it and for wind power generally. Contacts for Port Bajool PL are: Wendy Morris, mobile phone 0418 717 280, and John Morris, 0438 988 023.
Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm
ABC News posted a piece about the project, written by Megan Hendry and Jacquie Mackay on 2018/06/06, in particular that it had been approved by the Queensland government. According to the ABC piece Lacour Energy have plans to establish and $200,000 (per year?) community benefit fund.
Coopers Gap Wind FarmAlso known as Dalby Wind Farm
Following an email inquiry to AGL I was informed that: "Some initial earthworks for the substation will be starting in September 2017, but the proper wind farm works won't start until January 2018."Originally proposed by Investec Bank, this project was aquired by AGL (who have a Net page on the project) in December 2008. GE also has a page on the project. It is being built on a 12 000ha site about 180km north-west of Brisbane near Cooranga North, between Dalby and Kingaroy. A map is available from AGL's Web site.
The ABC on-line news reported that Mayor of Dalby Regional Council said that the landholders would be paid $10 000 per turbine per year. The Queensland Sunday Mail carried an article on 2011/04/03 that gave a figure of "up to $6000 a year per turbine".
Crows Nest Wind Farm
It was reported by Louise O'Keeffe in The Chronicle, 2009/01/08, that "AGL is continuing to develop the project". Another article in The Chronicle (Stuart Cumming, 2011/02/02) stated that "although a development application had lapsed, there were plans for it to be resubmitted". On 2009/06/18 AGL announced that they had bought the rights "to develop a smaller wind farm in Queensland which would allow AGL to expand its existing wind farm development at Crows Nest near Toowoomba, by 20 turbines. This would increase the potential capacity of Crow's Nest to approximately 200MW".
It is possible that the Transfield development that AGL bought to extend Crows Nest is Crediton or High Road Wind Farm.
Dulacca Wind FarmProposed by RES, who have an Internet page on the project this is to be a combined wind and solar farm between Dulacca and Drillham, 250 km northwest of Toowoomba in the Western Downs Regional Council region.The solar component is intended to be 75 MW. According to Sophie Vorrath writing for Renew Economy 2019/03/13 the wind farm component has been approved by the Queensland Government.
Forsayth Wind FarmProposed by Infigen this project has been given in-principle support by the local council. The wind farm is proposed to be built on the Sirron Cattle Station between Forsayth and Mt Surprise. There were no objections to the project. (Reported in the Cairns Post on 2012/10/31.)In late February 2016 it was reported that the wind farm had been shortlisted on Ergon Energy's tender and that if it won the tender construction could begin mid-year.
High Road Wind FarmTransfield Services Infrastructure Fund did own this wind farm, but they were taken over by Ratch Australia Corporation (80% owned by Thai power company and 20% owned by Transfield Services). Transfield's Net pages on what used to be its wind farms are no more.It is proposed that the farm will be in the Evelyn area, about 10km north of Ravenshoe and 25km south of Atherton in North Queensland and it is expected to cost around $90 million. On the map the wind farm will be where Evelyn is shown and extend above that on the left side of the Kennedy Highway (brown on the map) and across to the green area. Transfield Services acquired the High Road Wind Farm from Stanwell Corporation in December 2007. Stanwell Corporation undertook a thorough site suitability assessment to identify a preferred location for the proposed wind farm. The High Road site was chosen because of:
This seems to indicate a serious commitment to the project.
Transfield expect the wind farm to operate for 20 to 30 years and say that
if and when it is decommissioned the site will be returned to its original
land use.
On 2012/02/08 I received the following from someone who wishes not to be named: "In the current layout, the wind farm is unable to comply with Queensland noise legislation and the development is at a stalemate (the developer attempting to negotiate more lenient noise conditions and the Council unable to comply for obvious legal reasons). It is noted that at least 6 residences are located under 1000m from turbines, with one family (non-host) only 470 metres away from proposed turbines. It's not surprising then that the developer cannot comply."
Kaban Green Power HubIn May 2018 French renewable energy company Neoen received approval for a big wind farm and battery to be built 80km southwest of Cairns and 6km northwest of the town of Ravenshoe. Neoen has a net page about the project.Giles Parkinson wrote a piece about it for RenewEconomy on 2018/05/21. He reported that the turbines could be 5.5 MW each; the previous record turbine capacity in Australia was the 3.8 MW turbines being installed at Coopers Gap WF. Neoen have committed to providing a community fund, but have not yet placed a figure on it. The project is expected to have a life of 25 to 30 years.
Kennedy Energy ParkAlso known as Hughenden Wind Farm or Kennedy Wind FarmThis project, that combines wind power, solar power and battery storage, has been proposed by WindLab, who have a Net page about it. If built it will be on the Great Dividing Range 17km south-east of Hughenden and about 290km SW of Townsville.It was announced in late December 2018 that the first stage was operational. In an article in RenewEconomy written by Sophie Vorrath 2017/08/18, it was stated that Windlab had raised $50 million in an initial public offer and that would allow building the first 60 MW stage of the project. As of July 2015 it was intended that the wind farm would be combined with a solar PV power station of up to 650MW.
There are 12 turbines each of 3.6 MW in the first stage.
Lakeland Wind FarmWindLab have a not very informative Web page about the project which is to be built 60 km south west of Cooktown.On 2018/02/07 I emailed asking Windlab for the exact number of turbines, exact total MW, likely date for construction and likely date of completion. I received a reply from Joshua Petrass, Project Manager. He informed me that 30 turbines had been approved, but their size had not yet been settled, and he gave me the expected dates for construction and completion shown below. Thank you Joshua. Sophie Vorrath wrote a piece for RenewEconomy on 2018/02/07 announcing that approval had been granted for the project – and giving little other information.
Rabbit Ridge Wind FarmThis small wind farm is proposed to be north of Pozieres in south-eastern Queensland about 150km SSW of Gold Coast. The township of Dalveen has also been mentioned in relation to this project. An article dated 2018/02/20 in the Warwick Daily News mentioned eight turbines. It also mentioned that the project was expected to cost $40 million and that it had been approved by December 2016.A net site devoted to the project mentioned "over 11Mw [11MW] being produced" by the project on completion. This site also mentioned that the project was to include a solar component. I'd have to say that the available information is sketchy.
Thursday Island Wind FarmOn some maps it will be named Prince of Wales Island.
Windy Hill Wind FarmThis wind farm is near Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands. Previously owned by Stanwell Corporation, then Transfield Infrastructure Fund; it is now owned by Ratch Australia Corp. (Ratch is 80% owned by Thai power company and 20% owned by Transfield Services.)It was reported in the Cains Post that a turbine was lost to fire in March 2019. On 2012/08/02 Tony Stickey wrote an article in the Cairns Post stating the the wind farm operator was facing legal action over noise and might have to close down three turbines overnight.
The net pages on TIF and Transfield's page on Windy Hill Wind Farm are no
more.
Other proposed wind farmsIn addition to the wind farms detailed above many others have been proposed (table below).If and when any of these proposed wind farms look likely to be built, and as I get more information, I will write them up in more detail. If any readers have information concerning these I would appreciate a note, my email address is at the top of this page. Until a wind farm gets at least to the point where an application for approval has been submitted to the relevant authority it may be little more than wishfull thinking and is not worth covering in more detail than that below. |
Wind farms that have been proposed in QueenslandIn alphabetical order | ||||
| Project name | Sponsoring Company | Capacity, MW | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen | Ratch-Australia Corporation | ? | ? | |
| Coconut Island | Ergon Energy | 0.01 | Decommisioned | |
| Coowonga | Earth Energy | 0.02 | Feasibility | |
| Crediton | Ratch-Australia Corporation | 30 | Proposed | |
| North Stradbroke Island | Stanwell or Transfield? | 15 | Proposed | |
| Rock Road (south of Atherton) | DP Energy (Ireland) | ? | Feasibility | |
| Tolga (7km north of Atherton) | Tolga Wind Farm | 40-50 | Feasibility | |
| Windy Hill stage 2 | Ratch-Australia Corporation | ? | Proposed | |
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