Wind Farm Mast Rejected in Unanimous Vote

Whitsundays Wind Farm Action Group. Photo supplied

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By Zach Houtenville

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In a decision welcomed by many local residents, Whitsunday Regional Council has rejected Alinta Energy’s application for a 160-metre meteorological mast linked to the proposed Mount Challenger Wind Farm.

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The decision came at the council meeting in Bowen on the 23rd September where the council came to a unanimous decision.  

“For me, it came down to the size and visibility of the structure, the rural character of the area and what we heard from the people who live there,” said Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins.  

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“After weighing all of that up, I wasn’t satisfied a structure of that scale in that location was the right planning outcome.”

For the Whitsundays Wind Warm Action Group, the decision adds to another recent streak of milestone moments over the 12 months span since the project was first proposed, including a 6,000-signature petition and the developer withdrawing part of the proposed project.

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“We were stoked as a community,” said member of the Whitsundays Wind Farm Action Group Alysha Lee.  

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“For us, it definitely signals that the council are listening.”

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Alinta Energy said the mast was intended to measure wind conditions in the northern project area, helping the company decide how to proceed. It will now consider Council’s reasons for rejecting the application before deciding its next move.

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“We acknowledge Council’s decision and will review its reasons in detail once the Decision Notice is issued before considering next steps for the project,” an Alinta Energy spokesperson said.

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Council doors are still opened to future energy projects, with a willingness to work with developers who plan carefully and engage with local communities.

“I don’t see this as Council saying no to renewable energy or investment in our region,” Mayor Collins said.

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“I support a balanced energy mix and I believe the Whitsundays has a role to play in future energy development, but that doesn’t mean every project is right for every location.

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“What we are saying is that development needs to be in the right place, planned properly and take into account the communities that are being asked to live alongside it.”

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The Wind Farm Action Group is now eager to hear Alinta’s next steps, with Alysha hoping that the next milestone will be a full withdrawal from the project.  

“We’ll be approaching Alinta and asking when they’re pulling out of this project,” she said.

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The group also hopes Council’s upcoming Community Benefit Agreement policy will give developers and landholders clearer guidance on suitable locations for renewable energy projects.

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Mayor Ry Collins said the policy would consider what host communities receive in return, alongside impacts on nearby residents, local jobs and procurement, housing and infrastructure pressures, and the protection of agricultural land and the environment.

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“At the end of the day, communities should see a genuine local benefit from hosting these major projects,” he said.

“As I said at the Council meeting, the transition to new forms of energy needs to be done with communities, not simply around them.”

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