The Project

Project Summary

Wooderson Solar Farm is located 40km south-west of Gladstone and 20km west of Calliope, in Central Queensland.

Wooderson Solar Farm’s location was chosen for its capacity for solar generation, proximity to transmission lines, accessibility and our ability to achieve the project goals with minimal environmental and community impacts.

The Project will consist of approximately 980,000 solar panels capable of generating 450 MW of electricity and a battery energy storage system with associated infrastructure including access tracks, electrical reticulation cables, a substation and switching yard.

The Wooderson Solar Farm project will supply the National Electricity Market (NEM) with electricity generated from solar power. Key features include:

Solar PV Modules

980,000 solar PV modules, producing 450 MW of solar power.

Substation

An electrical substation and switching station.

Battery Energy Storage System

Up to 8 hours of battery storage (450MW / 3600MWh)

Cable Reticulation

Overhead and underground electrical cable reticulation to connect the modules to the substation.

Irradiance Sensors

Sensors for measuring solar irradiance levels.

O&M Building

Operations and maintenance building with associated car parking.

Temporary Construction Facilities

Including a construction compound, borrow pit and concrete batching plant facilities.

Solar Farm Timeline

Site Selection & Feasibility
(12-18 mths)

  • Land identification

  • Constraints analysis and landowner mapping

  • Baseline environmental surveys

  • Initial non-intrusive site investigations, concept design and energy yields

  • Engagement with Traditional Owners and community reps

Construction & Commissioning (~29 mths)

  • Installation of solar PV modules and trackers

  • Construction of other project infrastructure including access tracks, substation, grid connection

  • Discharge planning and environmental conditions

  • Commissioning of solar farm

  • Grazing continues around constructed solar PV modules

Operations
(30-35 yrs)

  • Annual rental payments

  • Site managed by local operators

  • Grazing continues around the solar PV modules

  • Decommissioning (12 mths)

Development & Approval (12-16 mths)

  • Detailed site investigation and Project design work carried out

  • Irradiation assessment

  • Development Application materials prepared

  • Local community and key stakeholders consulted

  • Planning application submitted

Grid Connection Studies
(12-16 mths)

  • Analysis of connection options

  • Detailed design of substation and connection arrangement

  • Connection studies and assessment by AEMO and network provider

Financing & Further Site Investigations(12 mths)

  • Secure financing for the project

  • Sign contracts required to build the solar farm

  • Discharge planning and environmental conditions

  • Further site investigation works

Approvals

Prior to construction, planning approval is required for the following aspects of the Project: 

  1. Solar farm, battery energy storage system and substation, including ancillary infrastructure 

  1. 275kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) between the substation and Powerlink’s 275kV network. 

Four approvals are required: three planning and one environmental. The decision makers (or assessment managers) are Queensland Government State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), Gladstone Regional Council (GRC), Office of the Coordinator-General (OCG) and the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).  

Each approval pathway is detailed below. The approvals could overlap and don’t have to occur in the order listed below. Information will be updated as the approvals process progresses. 

CQP is committed to ongoing community consultation about the Project. While some of the approval pathways will include a period during which you will be able to submit feedback directly to the decision maker, if you have any questions or feedback about the Project, you can contact us at any time via email, phone or contact form on our website (CONTACT & REGISTRATION — Wooderson Solar Farm). 

Approvals Process

Approval Pathway Project Aspect Decision Maker (Assessment Manager) Referral Agency Status & Timing (estimated) Community Consultation
Australian Government environmental approval required

EPBC Referral

Written request from CQP to the Federal Environment Minister to decide whether the project needs assessment and approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (EPBC Act).

For more information visit: dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/approvals 		Entire project (solar farm, BESS and substation, including ancillary infrastructure, and 275kV OHTL) Australian Government DCCEEW None EPBC Referral anticipated to be submitted in Q3, 2025 (TBC).
Expected at least 3 months from application to Minister’s final decision about whether further approval is required. 		CQP will carry out additional community consultation prior to EPBC Referral submission.

Public comment period of 10 days on EPBC Act Public Portal. For more information visit:
dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/advice/community-consultation

CQP will notify the community via email and website once this period is known.
Development Application (DA) 1: State government planning approval required

Impact assessment: Material Change of Use for Renewable Energy Facility (solar farm) with battery energy storage system and substation 		Solar farm, battery energy storage system and substation, including ancillary infrastructure Queensland Government State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) Jemena Expected submission of development application in Q1 2026.
Decision expected Q3 – Q4 2025. 		Public information sessions held in December 2024 and June 2025 sought feedback on the Project during development of this DA.

Formal public consultation period as part of the assessment of this DA.
DA 2: Local government planning approval required

Impact assessment: Material Change of Use for Major Electricity Infrastructure (Overhead Transmission Line) 		275kV OHTL – outside the Callide Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area only GRC Queensland Government SARA Agency Application anticipated to be submitted in Q4, 2025 (TBC).
Expected 8 months from application to decision. 		CQP will carry out additional community consultation prior to DA submission.

Public notification period determined by GRC, during which time community members may make submissions about the project to GRC.
Public notification to be undertaken by CQP.
DA 3: State government planning approval required

Impact assessment: Material Change of Use for Major Electricity Infrastructure (Overhead Transmission Line) 		275kV OHTL – within the Callide Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area only OCG GRC

Other relevant State Government agencies (TBC)		 Application anticipated to be submitted in Q4, 2025 (TBC).
Expected 8 months from application to decision. 		CQP will carry out additional community consultation prior to DA submission.

Public notification may be required by OCG, minimum 15 business days and to be undertaken by CQP.