Massive wind farm planned for southern Qld
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A wind farm proposed for the South Burnett region in Queensland would be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, generating enough power for 320,000 homes within three years.
Coopers Gap Wind Farm would consist of 252 turbines and cost $1.2 billion to construct on cleared grazing land south-west of Kingaroy.
The company has been established by Investec Bank and Windlab Systems, a CSIRO-established company specialising in wind resources.
Project manager Lynne Lagan said initial feedback to the proposal has been positive.
"You definitely get the feeling now when you're talking to people in the area and councils that there is much more awareness about the need for projects like this," she said.
"I think it's much more in the public consciousness now than it was a few years ago."
The company does not believe the proposed location across local government boundaries will hold up the approvals process.
The wind farm would be partly in the Dalby Regional Council and partly in the South Burnett.
Ms Lagan said the development application should be lodged with one of the councils later this month.
"The Minister for Planning will make a determination as to which of the councils will be the assessment manager for the project," she said.
"That council will be responsible for processing the development and the other council will act as a concurrency agency on the application."
Ms Lagan does not expect that environmental concerns will be an impediment to the project.
"The impact on flora and fauna has already been investigated," she said.
"We've undertaken a referral to the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act and they've determined that its a non-controlled action.
"The ecologists say that the impact from having the wind farm in the area is considered to be reasonably small."
