Australian State Plans Large-Scale Wind Farm in a Forest

The Australian state of Queensland is planning a massive wind farm called Forest Wind which has the potential to become the largest onshore wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. An important milestone has now been reached in the develoment: The wind farm proposed for the Wide Bay Burnett region is continuing to advance with the introduction of the Forest Wind Development Bill 2020 into Parliament.

State Development Minister Kate Jones said the introduction of the Bill marked the successful completion of the detailed assessment stage of the Forest Wind project. “This project could be an absolute game changer for Queensland. With the potential to generate up to 1200 megawatts of electricity, it has the potential to supply one in four homes in our state. As the new Minister for State Development the Premier has tasked me with delivering job-creating projects that will stimulate our economy. Forest Wind is exactly the kind of project we’re keen to deliver to create jobs in our regions."

The wind farm will help Queensland propel towards the target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030. “Locating this wind farm within established southern pine timber plantations between Gympie and Maryborough maximises the value of this land that’s already supporting our forestry industry,” she said.

The Forest Wind Development Bill 2020 will outline a pathway for Forest Wind Holdings to obtain tenure to access, occupy, develop and manage the land for the purpose of the project, and limit the construction and operation of the wind farm to the Toolara, Tuan and Neerdie state forests.