Chalumbin Wind Farm Project, near Ravenshoe, Queensland (EPBC 2021/8983)

NOTIFICATION FOR PUBLICATION OF FINAL PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT REPORT UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999 (EPBC Act)

The following notice is published pursuant to Section 99(4) of the EPBC Act.

Chalumbin Wind Farm Pty Ltd proposes to develop a wind farm within the Tablelands Regional Council Local Government Area approximately 15 km southwest of Ravenshoe in far north Queensland, including up to 86 wind turbine generators and associated infrastructure. The project will be developed in two stages.

The project was determined a Controlled Action under the EPBC Act with assessment by Public Environment Report. The controlling provisions are ‘World Heritage Properties’ (sections 12 and 15A), ‘National Heritage Places’ (sections 15B and 15C), ‘Listed threatened species and communities’ (sections 18 and 18A) and ‘Listed migratory species’ (sections 20 and 20A).

Public comments were accepted between Monday 7 November 2022 and Monday 9 January 2023. The Final Public Environment Report was submitted to the Minister on 7 March 2023 and within 10 business days the designated proponent must publish the finalised report.

Due to an administrative error the Final Public Environment Report was resubmitted on 27 March 2023 and the display period for the Final Public Environment Report has been restarted.

Hard copies of the Final Public Environment Report will be on display for a minimum of 20 business days between Wednesday 29 March and Friday 28 April 2023 at the following locations:

• Tablelands Regional Council (Front Reception), 45 Mabel Street, Atherton, QLD 4883.
• State Library of Queensland (John Oxley Library – Level 4), Stanley Place, South Brisbane, QLD 4101.

The Public Environment Report materials are also available online via the links below.

The project’s original EPBC Act Referral and Variation (superseded by the Public Environment Report) documentation is also available online here.

Persons with special needs (ie for whom English is a second language or with vision impairment) may contact the proponent for assistance on info@chalumbinwindfarm.com.au.

Cover, Contents, Executive Summary, Acronyms, Abbreviations (38 pages)

Section 1: General Information (11 pages)

Section 2: Description of the Action (17 pages)

Section 3: Feasible Alternatives (10 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 1 (17 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 2 (16 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 3 (12 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 4 (25 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 5 (14 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 6 (20 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 7 (31 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 8 (9 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 9 (1 page)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 10 (19 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 11 (24 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 12 (6 pages)

Section 4: Description of the Environment - Part 13 (7 pages)

Section 5: Impact Assessment (46 pages)

Section 6: Avoidance, Mitigation & Management Measures (44 pages)

Section 7: Rehabilitation (2 pages)

Section 8: Significant Impact Assessment - Part 1 (74 pages)

Section 8: Significant Impact Assessment - Part 2 (44 pages)

Section 8: Significant Impact Assessment - Part 3 (24 pages)

Section 8: Significant Impact Assessment - Part 4 (24 pages)

Section 8: Significant Impact Assessment - Part 5 (87 pages)

Section 9: Offsets (1 page)

Section 10: Other Approvals and Conditions (10 pages)

Section 11: Consultation (13 pages)

Section 12: Environmental Record of the Proponent (1 page)

Section 13: Economic and Social Matters (20 pages)

Section 14: Conclusion (5 pages)

Section 15: References (21 pages)

Appendix A - PER Guidelines and Reference Table (64 pages)

Appendix B - Desktop Searches (140 pages)

Appendix C - Aboriginal Historical Records (5 pages)

Appendix D - Preliminary Fauna Management Plan (52 pages)

Appendix E Pt 1 - Preliminary Vegetation Management Plan Pt 1 (18 pages)

Appendix E Pt 2 - Preliminary Vegetation Management Plan Pt 2 (23 pages)

Appendix F - Preliminary Weed and Pest Management Plan (28 pages)

Appendix G - Preliminary Bird and Bat Management Plan (88 pages)

Appendix H - Environmental Management Plan Outline (32 pages)

Appendix I Pt 1 - Construction Management Plan Pt 1 (64 pages)

Appendix I Pt 2 - Construction Management Plan Pt 2 (10 pages)

Appendix J Pt 1 - Sediment and Erosion Management Plan - Pt 1 (60 pages)

Appendix J Pt 2 - Sediment and Erosion Management Plan - Pt 2 (15 pages)

Appendix K Pt 1 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 1 (29 pages)

Appendix K Pt 2 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 2 (6 pages)

Appendix K Pt 3 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 3 (5 pages)

Appendix K Pt 4 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 4 (5 pages)

Appendix K Pt 5 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 5 (5 pages)

Appendix K Pt 6 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 6 (15 pages)

Appendix K Pt 7 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 7 (9 pages)

Appendix K Pt 8 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 8 (4 pages)

Appendix K Pt 9 - Preliminary Rehabilitation Plan - Pt 9 (11 pages)

Appendix L - Greenhouse Gas Assessment Calculations (4 pages)

Appendix M Pt 1 - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (148 pages)

Appendix M Pt 2 - LVIA (Appendix 1 - Figures) Pt 1 (5 pages)

Appendix M Pt 3 - LVIA (Appendix 1 - Figures) Pt 2 (7 pages)

Appendix M Pt 4 - LVIA (Appendix 1 - Figures) Pt 3 (2 pages)

Appendix M Pt 5 - LVIA (Appendix 2 - Visualisation) Pt 1 (17 pages)

Appendix M Pt 6 - LVIA (Appendix 2 - Visualisation) Pt 2 (2 pages)

Appendix N - Flood Assessment Report (40 pages)

Appendix O Pt 1 - Preliminary Offset Strategy - Pt 1 (52 pages)

Appendix O Pt 2 - Preliminary Offset Strategy - Pt 2 (43 pages)

Appendix P - Study Team (2 pages)

Appendix Q - Bird and Bat Utilisation Survey Report (54 pages)

Appendix R Pt 1 - Transport Route Study - Pt 1 (58 pages)

Appendix R Pt 2 - Transport Route Study - Pt 2 (1 page)

Appendix S Pt 1 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 1 (5 pages)

Appendix S Pt 2 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 2 (5 pages)

Appendix S Pt 3 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 3 (5 pages)

Appendix S Pt 4 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 4 (5 pages)

Appendix S Pt 5 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 5 (5 pages)

Appendix S Pt 6 - Potential Sedimentation Impacts MBF Habitat - Pt 6 (1 pages)

Appendix T - WTQWHA Endemics (13 pages)

Appendix U - Response to Submissions Report (181 pages)