Community & Business
13 August, 2023
Call to deny new wind farm
MEMBER for Hill Shane Knuth has called on Federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek to deny approval for the Chalumbin Wind Farm proposed for a site near Ravenshoe.
Mr Knuth said the announcement last week from Deputy Premier Steven Miles of a review into requirement for wind farm developments was a warning shot to the Federal Government.
“It's no coincidence the State Government has announced a review of the requirements for wind farm developments, considering the situation with Chalumbin, to identify how they can better protect areas of high ecological and biodiversity value,” he said.
He said the review announcement was “perfect timing”, while the Federal Government is considering granting approval for the Chalumbin Wind Farm Development near Ravenshoe.
“To be honest I find it incredible that the Federal Government is still considering approving this project and seem to be ignoring that it is right next door to a World Heritage-Listed area, which includes threatened and endangered, species and wet sclerophyll forest,” Mr Knuth said.
“On that basis alone, the project should be immediately stopped.”
Mr Knuth added there had been significant opposition to the project from within the wider community.
“I would ask anyone in the State how they would feel if their small community was surrounded by three wind farms, with Chalumbin's turbines and blades set to be among the largest in the southern hemisphere,” he said.
“Valuable water projects and dams in this state are stopped when a species or natural habitat is threatened, but a free pass seems to be given to wind farms, despite knocking down forests, clearing land, endangering wildlife and destroying the quality of life of a community.
“This is neither clever nor economically or environmentally sensible.
“The negatives of this project far outweigh any minor positives it may provide and I support the community 100 per cent in campaigning against this foreign-owned development."
