Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie has used his ministerial powers to refuse planning approval for Greenleaf Renewables’ proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm.
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The 88-turbine wind farm, proposed to built 40km from Rockhampton, had been approved by the state planning department in December 2024. Following community consultation and an assessment led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Bleijie exercised his ministerial powers to refuse the development application.
During the two-month call-in notice period, there were 508 representations, including 142 from local residents. Eighty-eight per cent of residents were against the project, citing concerns over housing supply, lack of community consultation, and environmental and bushfire hazard impacts.
Bleijie said the government was delivering on its election commitment to ensure local communities are consulted on any new wind farm developments.
“For too long Queensland communities were ignored by Labor’s failed laws, which shut them out of the approvals process for renewable energy projects proposed to be built in their backyard,” he said.
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“Queenslanders deserve to have a say on any major development in their local community, which is why our government introduced new nation-leading laws to give them a voice on issues that impact that future of their towns.”
There is no appeals process against the minister’s decision on a call-in under the Planning Act.
