In a highly debated decision affecting traditional owners, clean energy developers, and conservationists in far north Queensland, Ark Energy recently announced the withdrawal of the Wooroora Station Wind Farm proposal from the federal environmental assessment process. Originally known as the Chalumbin project, it underwent significant changes that included reducing the number of turbines from 200 to 42 due to the objections raised regarding the potential impact on the habitat of threatened species in the region, such as the koala and magnificent brood frog. Despite the project receiving approval from the Queensland government in 2022, the federal environmental assessment process proved to be a lengthy and contentious ordeal.
Conservationist and nature photographer Steven Nowakowski, who vehemently opposed the project, expressed a mix of relief and frustration at the eventual outcome. The decision to withdraw the proposed wind farm came after almost three years of assessments under the federal environmental protection laws. The process highlighted the challenges faced by renewable energy projects in Australia, particularly concerning the predictability, transparency, and timeliness of assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Clean Energy Investor Group CEO Simon Corbell emphasized the crucial need for improvements to streamline the assessment process to meet Australia's renewable energy goals.
The complexities surrounding renewable energy projects were underscored by the Wooroora Station Wind Farm's case, with delays in reaching final decisions under the EPBC Act adding significant time and costs to the development process. As the federal government works towards doubling renewable energy generation within six years, efforts are being made to address the challenges posed by assessments under the EPBC Act. While federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved numerous clean energy projects, the need for substantial changes to environmental laws remains evident. Amid efforts to accelerate the assessment process, concerns persist about balancing the rapid deployment of renewables with environmental conservation efforts to avoid potential harm to nature.