Queensland Government approves application to build Australia’s largest publicly owned wind farm

The Queensland Government has approved an application for the Tarong West Wind Farm, which will support the state’s target to generate 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032 and 80 per cent by 2035.

Publicly held Stanwell is working with global renewable energy developer RES to build a proposed 436.5MW wind farm 30 kilometres southwest of Kingaroy.

The project will include 97 wind turbines and produce enough electricity to power 230,000 homes.

“The Tarong West Wind Farm is a key part of not only Stanwell’s plan to decarbonise our existing portfolio, but is also critical to Queensland achieving its renewable energy targets,” said Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Stanwell.

“The 436.5MW wind farm will not only deliver enough clean energy to the grid to power 230,000 homes, but will also deliver significant regional benefits to the community and provide future career opportunities for our employees.”

This project will create significant economic opportunities and is estimated to create around 200 jobs and relocate 15 operational positions to new positions.

“The construction of this major energy infrastructure will create around 200 construction jobs, provide a financial boost to the region and secure long-term operations and maintenance roles,” said Minister for Energy and Clean Economy, Mick de Brenni.

Tarong West Wind Farm has received $776.1 million in funding from the Queensland Government’s Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund.

The assessment considered a strategy for providing accommodation to workers to ensure that housing supply in the region was not adversely affected.

SARA has worked closely with the Department of Resources to ensure the development contributes to the protection of important ecologically significant areas, including the protection of 13.47ha of koala habitat.

In addition to the requirement to rehabilitate areas cleared during construction to the greatest extent possible, conditions were imposed on compensation for the effects of construction on an area of up to 5.4 ha of koala habitat.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2025.