In outback Queensland, plans for a massive $5 billion wind farm project near Hughenden have been revealed by Renewable Energy Partners (REP). This proposed wind farm, expected to be one of the country's largest with a capacity of 5 gigawatts, could potentially power a population equivalent to the size of Townsville. The announcement of this project has sparked confidence and interest, with all levels of government lending their support to the initiative.
The first phase of the project, known as the Bogunda Wind Farm, aims to construct a 2-gigawatt wind farm, which would make up a significant portion of the overall proposal. With construction estimated to be at least two to three years away, the total cost of the project is projected to be $5 billion. This ambitious undertaking has been bolstered by recent government actions, such as the Queensland government's investment in CopperString 2032, a major economic development project aiming to connect Mount Isa to the national energy grid through an 840-kilometre transmission line.
Local stakeholders in Hughenden and Flinders Shire Council, including Mayor Kate Peddle, are actively engaging with the proposed wind farm project. Mayor Peddle expressed both anticipation and concerns regarding the potential impacts on infrastructure and services in the region. While recognizing the economic opportunities that such a project could bring, she highlighted the importance of addressing issues like water, sewerage, healthcare, and housing to accommodate the influx of workers and residents associated with the development. The proposed wind farm comes on the heels of other energy initiatives in the area, such as the Kennedy Energy Park, which was completed in 2019 but has significantly less capacity compared to the Bogunda Wind Farm project.