Business
22 January, 2025
State's wind farm policy backed by Flinders Shire Council
Mayor Kate Peddle says the community should always be consulted before a wind farm is erected.
Flinders Shire Council says it welcomes the state government’s temporary pause on wind farm proposals across Queensland, which aims to ensure stronger community consultation and more rigorous planning processes for renewable energy projects.
Deputy Premier and State Development Minister Jarrod Bleijie has exercised extraordinary powers to issue a proposed call-in notice for a wind farm near Rockhampton.
The assessment of three other wind farm projects has also been temporarily paused to tighten renewable energy planning laws and ensure impacted communities are given a greater voice.
Flinders Shire mayor Kate Peddle said the move aligned with the LNP’s election commitment to apply a higher level of scrutiny to renewable energy projects, bringing them in line with planning standards applied to mining and agriculture.
“I think it’s good that the government is committed to establishing robust approval processes for wind energy projects,” she said.
“However, it’s equally important that these processes do not stifle investment opportunities in the sector.
“We need to strike a careful balance that encourages growth while ensuring that communities and local councils receive their fair share of the benefits that come from renewable energy developments.”
Cr Peddle said that developments needed to deliver tangible benefits to local communities.
“As a council, it’s our job to get the best for our community,” she said.
“Whether it’s a wind farm or any other development, it needs to be done right, and the value must extend to improvements within our shire.
“Governments might have renewable energy targets, but we have a survival target.”
The mayor also called for the standardisation of community benefit funds for councils hosting renewable energy projects.
“I’m happy that the government will have processes in place, and I hope they consider standardising a community benefit fund for all councils accepting and supporting these proposals,” Cr Peddle said.
“We don’t have an ideological belief in alternative energy, but we are happy to diversify our economic gains.
“We need government to keep the lines of communication open with local governments and really invest in our partnerships.”
When asked whether the temporary pause on renewable energy projects could jeopardise the feasibility of CopperString, Cr Peddle said she did not believe it would.
“CopperString is important to the entire Townsville to Mount Isa economy, our mining, minerals processing, and energy generation,” she said.
“Improving the approvals processes will actually increase the drive to build energy infrastructure in the west, not reduce it. We want energy investment in the Flinders Shire and to ensure benefits flow to the region.”