Wooderson Solar Farm Reaches First Planning Milestone
The proposed Wooderson Solar Farm has achieved an important milestone, with the project receiving the first of three required planning approvals. The approval relates to a section of the proposed overhead transmission line located within the Callide Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area (known as Development Application 3) and was assessed by the Queensland Government's Office of the Coordinator-General.
This milestone follows extensive planning, technical assessments and stakeholder engagement undertaken to support the project's development. Comprehensive studies considered a range of matters including agricultural land, ecology, bushfire management, environmental hazards, health and safety, stormwater, visual impacts, aviation and traffic. The assessments concluded that, with appropriate mitigation and management measures in place, the infrastructure can be developed and operated with minimal impacts on surrounding land uses and environmental values. You can read more about these assessments in this factsheet here.
The project represents an estimated $1.9 billion investment in Central Queensland and is expected to create up to 680 direct jobs during construction. Designed to coexist with existing agricultural activities, most of the project area will remain available for cattle grazing outside the fenced solar infrastructure footprint.
What Happens Next?
Two planning applications remain under assessment:
· Development Application 1: with the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for the solar farm and ancillary infrastructure including battery energy storage system.
· Development Application 2: with Gladstone Regional Council for sections of the proposed overhead transmission line and switchyard located outside the Callide Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area.
Central Queensland Power will continue working closely with landholders, community members, Traditional Owners, government agencies and other stakeholders as the approvals process progresses. Information about future opportunities to participate in the planning process will be shared by CQP as assessment activities continue.
