The Farrells have run cattle on their rural Queensland property for more than 100 years and are now excited about renewables and the next phase of their family legacy.
Kerry Farrell is among seven neighbouring landholders who have agreed to lease part of their land in Queensland’s North Burnett to the Stony Creek Wind Farm development.
Ms Farrell said it was “extremely hard” to make a living from cattle farming and the wind farm project could generate extra income and take some of the financial pressure off the family.
“We’re excited about the possible diversification on our farm, keeping up financially above-board during drought, and a positive impact to our parcels of land that are low productive,” she said.
“[We can] keep the farm in the family and keep it operating, doing what we love.”
Ms Farrell said it would also boost their land management capabilities through the construction of roads and fire breaks on their property.
Kerry Farrells believes the wind farm can help boost the local economy. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
However, the federal member for Flynn, Colin Boyce, warned against believing the promises of “multinational companies”.
“They cuddle up to them [the landholders] and promise the world, and deliver nothing,” he said.
The $350 million Stony Creek project by Greenleaf Renewables secured its final tick of approval from the federal government in December 2023 for up to 27 wind turbines over 4,500 hectares of land, about 300 kilometres north of Brisbane.
The federal government said the wind farm would power more than 100,000 Queensland homes.
The Farrells have run cattle on their property for more than 100 years. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
Greenleaf Renewables director Tim Gregson said there would be up to 180 jobs during construction and five full-time operational positions.
He hoped construction would start before the end of 2025 as the company navigated what he said was one of its biggest hurdles — connecting to the electricity grid.
“Whether it’s a solar farm or a wind farm, it’s one of the hardest processes to implement and work through,” Mr Gregson said.
“It is a long process and it is expensive, but this is the cost of developing renewable energy assets in the market.”
Mr Gregson said the project had the potential to reinvigorate the nearby township of Biggenden.
Tim Gregson has promised to help revitalise Biggenden. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
“It’s a very old town,” he said.
“But large infrastructure projects like this, if they’re delivered correctly and if people work together, they can add a substantial amount of local benefit.”
Locals unsure about benefits
Biggenden’s population has drastically declined from 14,000 in the 1960s to about 650 residents in 2021, according to Census data.
Locals, including Jace Collin, are divided over whether renewable energy is the answer to revitalising the town.
“We’ve had the butcher close down, the bakery close down and the National Bank go in the last 24 months,” Ms Collin said.
“Where’s the power going to go? Will it benefit the town? We don’t know.”
Another resident Kallie Drescher also had reservations about the project.
“For anyone who lives nearby, there’s the noise that will come from it,” she said.
Biggenden has seen a drastic decline in population since the 1960s. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
Environmental concerns
There are 64 wind farm projects at various stages across Queensland, with ongoing debate over their impact on the environment and proposed location.
The federal government’s approval for the Stony Creek project included conditions to “avoid, mitigate and manage the impacts” on endangered animals, including the greater glider, koalas, squatter pigeon, grey-headed flying fox and red goshawk.
Wind turbine and renewable energy expert Rey Chin from the University of Adelaide said impact on wildlife from such projects was guaranteed.
“Flight paths of birds is one thing because wind turbines can kill quite a number of birds,” Dr Chin said.
“You need to clear land, so they need to find ways to mitigate the minimum impact to local animals.”
The Stony Creek Wind Farm site near Biggenden. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
Mr Gregson said the endangered greater glider had been found at the Stony Creek Wind Farm site and plans were underway for a “vegetated habitat” on a neighbouring property.
Meanwhile, LNP MP Colin Boyce is calling for a review of Queensland’s State Planning Act and the Vegetation Management Act to strengthen scrutiny of renewable energy projects.
“The renewable energy sector is not compliant with things like reef legislation, biodiversity legislation, environmental protocols and so forth that are cast upon the mining and resource sector and the agricultural sector, and this is absolutely appalling,” he said.
“There is no recourse for anybody who wants to oppose them, and people are finding out about these things after they’ve got their approvals and that’s been deliberately done by the previous state government .”
