Clouds can be seen above power-generating wind turbines at the Capital Wind Farm, located at Lake George, near the town of Bungendore on March 25, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)
The Queensland LNP government has officially cancelled the Forest Wind Farm project, which was set to feature 226 wind turbines in the state’s Wide Bay region. The announcement came on September 1, 2023, from Jarrod Bleijie, the Minister for Infrastructure, who cited significant community concerns surrounding the development.
The Forest Wind Farm Development Act 2020, which enabled the construction of the wind farm, was initially approved by the previous Labor government. The act was designed to facilitate renewable energy projects in Queensland, allowing for the installation of turbines that would have stood approximately 160 metres tall, comparable to the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Originally proposed in 2016, the project faced various challenges, leading to its eventual termination. The current Liberal National Party (LNP) government indicated that the decision was influenced by a lack of support from landholders, the withdrawal of the project’s venture partner in 2024, and ongoing opposition from local communities. According to Bleijie, these factors led the project to fall short of the government’s minimum standards for renewable energy initiatives.
The cancellation of the Forest Wind Farm is part of a broader shift in Queensland’s renewable energy policy. The LNP government has been scrutinizing existing and proposed projects, emphasizing the importance of community backing and environmental considerations. The decision has sparked discussions among industry stakeholders about the future of renewable energy in the region and its implications for broader climate goals.
With this cancellation, the Queensland government faces criticism from environmental advocates who believe that the state should be investing more aggressively in renewable energy sources. They argue that the transition to sustainable energy is essential for combating climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
As the debate continues, the focus now shifts to how the Queensland government will approach future renewable energy projects and whether they will find a balance between community concerns and the urgent need for sustainable energy solutions.
