WINDS OF CHANGE

The winds of change have certainly blown in a change for Mount Morgan – firstly with the new pool development, then the pipeline funding announcement, then the Heritage Minerals support package – now it seems that the Boulder Creek Wind Farm will start construction this year, generating both construction and operational employment for the area.

The Boulder Creek Wind Farm project area is located five kilometres west of Mount Morgan and 40 km southwest of Rockhampton and has obtained Queensland State Development approval in October 2021 and Federal Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) Approval in June 2022.

A Project spokesperson for the Green Investment Group said the project was expected to support up to 350 jobs during construction and up to 15-20 jobs during operation.

He said during development, the project would continue to undertake a range of public consultation including engaging with different project stakeholders including adjoining landholders, council and local agencies, fact sheets, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and letterbox drops, drop-in sessions at both Mount Morgan and Westwood communities and establishment of a project website with project information and contact details

The project is planning two community information sessions in Mount Morgan (8 March at the Soldiers’ Rooms) and Westwood (9 March).

“The project is currently expected to commence construction later this year and is expected to commence operations in 2026,” the spokesperson said.

According to the spokesperson, the approved project parameters provide for the construction of 60 wind turbines.

If the project is fully constructed, the project is expected to generate approximately 1.0 gigawatt hours of green electricity annually, equating to approximately 900,000 tonnes of carbon emission reductions each year and is the equivalent of suppling roughly 200,000 Queensland homes with green electricity.

“The project has been designed with the aim of minimising adverse environmental impacts to sensitive flora and fauna, and has a range of controls and measures imposed as conditions of the project’s state and federal environmental approvals,” he said.

In order to construct the project, major equipment deliveries of turbine components including blades, towers and nacelles will occur from delivery at Port of Gladstone and be trucked to the main site entry near Westwood. The timing of major equipment deliveries will be subject to timing of commencement of the project, and once known, the community will be advised well in advance of such movements occurring.

A Traffic Impact Assessment is currently being completed as a part of the projects’ development approval conditions, and will assess opportunities and measures to mitigate traffic delays in the project area and surrounds.

The project is planning to implement a number of local and state road improvements in order to assist with transport of the project equipment and will also consider the timing of transport activities and coordinate with local authorities to address impacts where possible.

“Each turbine is expected to require approximately 12 main component deliveries to the project site from the Port of Gladstone.

“These truck movements will be managed as a part of the Traffic Impact Assessment and Traffic Management Plan which is currently being developed for the project,” the spokesperson said.

Truck and vehicle movements for the project will be subject to the conditions and requirements of a Traffic Impact Assessment and Traffic Management Plan which is currently being finalised and will be subject to review and approval by both council and state government.

This will include provisions to facilitate the safe movement of vehicles with other local traffic, as well as measures to mitigate impacts to local traffic where possible.

Impact on some of the wildlife has been assessed as a part of the planning approval process.

The potential impacts to birds and bats were assessed as a part of extensive surveys and impacts risk assessment.

“The project will monitor species in the area and implement a wider ongoing bird and bat management plan to reduce and manage any impacts in the nearby vicinity of the project,” he said.

The spokesperson said it was expected that there would be limited environmental impact on clearances for public roads