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Wind Power News: OCEANIA
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Worker dies at central Queensland wind farm
A worker has died on a central Queensland wind farm after an incident on Wednesday, halting operations as investigations are launched. Police were called about 11.35am to the Clarke Creek Wind Farm site in Mount Gardiner, about 120km north-west of Rockhampton, to find a 27-year-old had died at the worksite. Officers deemed the death non-suspicious, but assisted Workplace Health and Safety Queensland in launching an investigation into the incident. Renewable energy giant Squadron Energy – which owns the 87-turbine wind . . . Complete story »
Birchip farmers plough sign against wind turbines in ‘land rights’ campaign
Birchip farmers have laid down a marker against the roll out of renewables in their area as their ’land rights’ campaign escalates. Nyal Chivell, Birchip, ploughed the logo of their campaign organisation ’Farms For Food’ in a field of stubble last month. The message – to leave farms be farms and let farmers farm their land – was loud and clear. Birchip landholders have renewable projects springing up on all sides and many, even though they are against the developments, . . . Complete story »
Hosting a wind or solar project? This is what a litigation lawyer wants you to know
A leading litigation lawyer has outlined the forgotten costs of hosting renewable projects and encouraged landholders to seek advice at the right time. If not, a legal fight against a project could cost up to $500,000. That was the warning given by AJ and Co Lawyers senior legal advisor Leanne O’Neill during her address to the Property Rights Australia conference in Emerald on June 7. As Queensland pushes towards its goal of sourcing 80 per cent of its energy from . . . Complete story »
Council cites cumulative impacts, not convinced of benefits as Valley of the Winds approved by NSW
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has signed off on the Valley of the Winds Wind Farm, clearing the way for up to 131 wind turbines to be built 40km north of Gulgong in the state’s Central West. The decision follows more than 50 public objections submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during its project assessment. Warrumbungle Shire Council formally objected to the proposal, with Mayor Kathryn Rindfleish saying the council is disappointed by the decision. “We . . . Complete story »
Residents protest wind farm proposals at council meeting for a third time
Wind farm proposals around the region took centre stage for the third consecutive council meeting as concerned residents filled the public gallery to the brim with signs of protest. 14 residents who live near wind farms proposed in Sunny Corner and Mount Lambie expressed opposition to the projects during public forum on Monday, May 26, citing potential health, environmental and impacts on their businesses as concerns. Sunny Corner resident Melinda Mills, who lives within 1.1 kilometres of two proposed wind . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine fires a concern for Downs residents petitioning the state
An anti–wind-farm petitioner has raised concerns about the Rural Fire Service’s ability to fight wind turbine fires on the Western Downs in the same week that Victorian crews battled a blaze at a renewable energy park. More than 750 Western Downs residents signed a petition tabled in state Parliament on May 20 asking it not to proceed with the Marmadua energy park and Tara wind farm development due to concerns about the increased risk of bushfires, among other factors. Cubico . . . Complete story »
Victoria wind farm guidelines for bird and bat protection
Wind energy developers in Victoria will face tougher scrutiny under a new government handbook aimed at minimising risks to threatened birds and bats. The 100-page document, released by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), sets out risk-based protocols and technical requirements that must now inform planning and environmental assessments for onshore wind projects. Effective from 29 May 2025, the Handbook for the development of renewable energy in Victoria mandates the use of a mitigation hierarchy – avoid, . . . Complete story »
Fire destroys wind turbine, burning blade falls, at Victoria green power hub
CFA crews were kept busy last night (28 May) with a wind turbine fire at a wind farm in Great Western. The wind farm fire began at about 9.30pm, and seven CFA units from Ararat, Stawell and Great Western fire brigades attended the scene. CFA District 16 Commander Ben Townsend said the fire was monitored by the company last night and crews were called back when it reignited at about 3.20am. “CFA crews that attended did what they could to . . . Complete story »
Communities get their say on wind farm development
After a thorough assessment, including significant feedback from local residents and stakeholders, the Queensland Government has decided not to proceed with a proposed wind farm development. The assessment was led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, and ultimately came to the conclusion that the proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm, 40 kilometres northwest of Rockhampton, should not proceed. The project included plans for up to 88 wind turbines, a battery energy storage system, and related infrastructure covering 1,269 . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
