Epuron referred the prospective Specimen Hill Wind Farm to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for review under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the delegate of the Minister has determined that the project is to be a ‘controlled action’.

This means that the Department will require preliminary documentation outlining controlling provisions for key identified species, and the project will require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed.

Paul Stangroom, General Manager Queensland for Epuron, welcomed the decision and additional guidance from the Department on environmental assessment requirements.

“We share the view that protecting the natural environment, a tenet of sustainable development, is a priority for our developments and welcome guidance on this from the Commonwealth.

"The goals of developing Queensland’s and Australia’s renewable energy capacity and protecting local wildlife are both critically important, and not incompatible objectives – it just requires careful planning and management, and the right approach.”

The project’s EPBC Act referral decision (reference number 2020/8864) is available on the EPBC Act - Public notices portal.