Windlab Pty Ltd, a venture backed by Aussie billionaire Andrew Forrest's Squadron Energy and Federation Asset Management from Sydney, has secured an environmental permit for a major wind project in Queensland.
Announcing the approval on Wednesday, Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Minister for the Environment and Water, emphasized the rigorous assessment process undertaken: “The project has been greenlit following a rigorous assessment process.”
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Under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, the Gawara Baya Wind Farm, previously known as the Upper Burdekin wind farm, will be located 65 km southwest of Ingham in North Queensland's Hinchinbrook Shire. It is slated to feature 69 turbines and is projected to supply electricity to approximately 240,000 local homes.
Conditions attached to the approval include strict clearance limits, specified construction hours, and the submission of detailed environmental management plans outlining mitigation measures.
See also: Queensland's USD 26 Billion Push for Renewable Energy and Infrastructure
According to information from the project's website, construction is scheduled to commence in 2024, with testing and commissioning expected to be finalized by the end of 2027.
