Thank you to everyone who attended the public information sessions for the Draft Public Environment Report in Ravenshoe last November, and to those who took the time to review the report and make a submission.

The Final Public Environment Report, taking into consideration comments made in submissions and including a Response to Submissions Report (Appendix U), has been lodged with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. It is available online here and on display at the following locations until Friday 28 April 2023:

• Tablelands Regional Council (front reception), 45 Mabel St, Atherton.
• State Library of Queensland (John Oxley Library – Level 4), Stanley Place, South Brisbane.
• Chalumbin Wind Farm Information Hub, 55 Grigg St, Ravenshoe.

The project team has focused on putting forward a proposal that can achieve net positive outcomes for key species and biodiversity in the area, as well as provide significant social and economic benefits for the local community.

The project area is within two cattle grazing properties with existing high voltage powerlines, access tracks and a substation. Vegetation is mostly of remnant status however in many areas it is significantly degraded with weeds, and native fauna are vulnerable to feral pest species including pigs, dogs and cats. The ecological commitments in the proposal present the opportunity to provide measurable conservation benefits for key species and improve the overall biodiversity values of the project area in the foreseeable future. They include:

• Land-based environmental offsets with management regimes to improve and protect 6,855 hectares (ha) of habitat for key species on private land, including 3,050 ha adjacent to the Tully Falls and Koombooloomba National Parks (Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area) and land that will improve habitat connectivity between Koombooloomba National Park and Yourka Reserve Nature Refuge.
• $250,000 for research and conservation of the magnificent brood frog.
• Rehabilitation of at least 70% of the construction disturbance not required for operation, which would provide a significant opportunity for local habitat restoration capacity building, training and employment.
• $500,000 per year Community Benefit Program for the 25-year life of the wind farm, presenting new funding opportunities for local threatened species recovery teams and working groups.
• 602 megawatts of clean energy to help decarbonise the electricity market and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

It is estimated that the project would create approximately 400 jobs during construction and 15-30 full-time jobs for operation, and generate around $300 million in local and regional expenditure during the construction period.

For the full summary download the Chalumbin Wind Farm Update - April 2023