A coalition of rural community groups is demanding tougher laws governing renewable energy developments, including mandatory turbine setbacks, stricter decommissioning rules and stronger protections for neighbouring landholders.
Regional Voices Queensland (RVQ), a loose alliance of about 12 community action groups representing communities affected by renewable energy projects across the state, brought landholders, farming industry representatives and politicians together for its first major meeting today at the Franz family farm beside the Wambo Wind Farm at Diamondy, 280 kilometres north-west of Brisbane.
The meeting, co-organised by Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, focused on reforms to planning laws, with more than 70 participants travelling from communities including the Southern Downs and other parts of regional Queensland.
Regional Voices Queensland members are demanding tougher laws governing renewable energy developments. (ABC Southern Qld: Brandon Long)
RVQ chair and Property Rights Australia board member, Jim Willmott, described the alliance as a "supergroup" formed after community organisations dealing with individual projects identified common concerns.
"What we found is a lot of community groups were dealing with individual projects themselves, but they all had the same common issues,"
Mr Willmott said.
The group is calling for a minimum 3-kilometre setback from residences and up-front decommissioning bonds.
Queensland's wind farm code has not allowed developers to comply simply by meeting a specified separation distance since 2024.
Projects must meet all of the code's performance outcomes, including noise criteria at neighbouring dwellings.
David Littleproud says affected landholders wanted clarity around the issue. (ABC Southern Qld: Brandon Long)
Mr Littleproud said affected landholders were seeking practical safeguards rather than opposing renewable energy outright.
"They're not asking for anything irrational," he said.
"They're actually being quite considered and it's coming from a lived experience."
Farm co-owner Glenn Franz, who does not host the turbines, said the experience of living beside the wind farm had highlighted gaps in existing protections, particularly around visual amenity and the financial risks associated with dismantling turbines at the end of their operational lives.
"We've got 13 wind turbines surrounding us within a 3km zone," Mr Franz said.
"There's got to be safeguards for the future.
"It'd be nice to have the security up front, not as a pay-as-you-go-down-the-track sort of scheme."
Karl Stefanovic interviewed landholders at the meeting. (ABC Southern Qld: Brandon Long)
The Wambo Wind Farm, a joint venture between state-owned Stanwell and energy infrastructure group Cubico, received planning approval in 2020.
Mr Franz said while the project was well advanced, other communities were at the start of the process and could learn from the Diamondy community's experience.
Anna Lethbridge and Brendan Taylor from AgForce attended the meeting. (ABC Southern Qld: Brandon Long)
AgForce policy adviser Anna Lethbridge said safeguards needed to extend beyond project hosts to neighbouring producers, including protections against contamination and impacts on agricultural accreditation.
"From an AgForce perspective, we're not opposed to renewables," Ms Lethbridge said.
"If you are going to host a project, you need to be fully informed of all the risks so you can make an informed decision."
Queensland regulates wind farm developments through its planning and environmental assessment framework, including State Code 23 and applicable approval conditions.
Since 2025, new wind farm applications must undergo impact assessment and provide financial security for decommissioning.
However, RVQ is concerned the wording is vague and could still leave landholders or taxpayers liable.
Developers must now also negotiate a community benefit agreement with the relevant council before lodging an application.