A group of very concerned East Greenmount residents is banding together in an effort to put a halt to plans to construct a series of wind turbines along the escarpment at Ramsay and East Greenmount.

The group of residents, who do not wish to be named, met with local Member for Condamine and Shadow Energy Minister Pat Weir on Monday to discuss what the best options moving forward are to have the project stopped.

The main issue the residents have is a complete lack of area-wide consultation and the close proximity to many lifestyle blocks, which sets this potential development apart from most.

The residents said little-known company Marble Energy has been in contact with landowners on the escarpment at Ramsay and East Greenmount over the last twelve to eighteen months, hoping to build between 20 and 30 wind turbines.

The residents said owners of properties where Marble Energy has no interest in building wind turbines have received no communication at all from Marble Energy.

They are concerned about the effect the turbines will have on the visual amenity of the landscape, as well as the non-stop noise the turbines will generate.

Wind farms can also have an impact on flight paths and the operations of rural fire brigades.

A substation will need to be built along the line and it will also connect to the major transmission line that is nearby.

Although there does need to be a public notification stage about the project if it progresses to a certain stage, the residents fear it will happen too late for them to properly voice their concerns.

The residents are also concerned about the effect on native vegetation, as well as animals including the koala and wedge-tailed eagle.

They believe current legislation requires wind turbines to be no less than 1500 metres from the nearest house.

The construction will also have an impact on local roads, many gravel and poorly maintained, which will have heavy vehicles travelling on them frequently during construction.

The sheer size of the wind turbines will likely make them visible from areas such as Hodgson Vale, Cambooya, Ascot and Budgee.

After speaking to the residents, Condamine MP Mr Weir said there should have already been area-wide consultation.

Mr Weir said he would be writing to Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles to find out as much information as possible about the project.

The residents have also contacted Toowoomba Regional Council, however local governments have very little power when it comes to renewable energy projects.

Marble Energy has not responded to questions from On Our Selection News.

The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, released in September 2022, has set targets of 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032, and 80 per cent by 2035.

From May 2022 to April 2023, 24.9 per cent of Queensland’s energy was renewable.

Of that 24.9 per cent, 10.2 per cent has been generated from rooftop solar, 7.9 per cent from solar, 3.1 per cent from wind, 2.4 per cent from bioenergy and 1.3 per cent from hydro.

There are currently 52 large-scale renewable energy projects, operating, under construction or financially committed, in Queensland.

Many wind farms elsewhere in Queensland, such as the operational Mount Emerald Wind Farm and Coopers Gap and the MacIntyre Wind Farm under constructed near Karara have a very low density in the surrounding area.

In contrast, East Greenmount and Ramsay have many lifestyle blocks, leading to a higher population density.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 6 July 2023.