About…

Mount Emerald Wind Farm

Mt Emerald Wind Farm is a ‘greenfield wind farm development’ meaning that the land upon which the wind farm is located has had no previous commercial land-use.

Development has been approved for up to 63 turbines at this site – however only 53 are to be constructed. A reduction in the number of turbines from the original proposed 75, is a result of:

community consultation and site assessment;
discussion with government and other key stakeholders;
to locate the turbines to avoid quoll habitat, and move some turbines from prominent ridgelines to reduce the visual and cultural heritage impact of the site works.

Project at a Glance

Estimated Construction Cost ~ $380 – $400 Million.
Estimated Annual Generation will be 500-600 GWh per annum, which will generate electricity to power the average use of 75,000 – 90,000 homes (1/3 of homes in FNQ)
Approximately 40km of new site roads will be required to bring the turbines to site safely, and to connect the turbines once constructed.
To enable connection to the existing 275kV NEM Powerlink Transmission line, which traverses the site, a new 33/275kV substation and switching yard will be constructed. Adjacent to the sub-station, a dedicated on-site O&M compound and control room will also be built for RATCH operational staff.

Why here?

The land comprises 2400Ha, whose orientation and elevation make it ideal as a wind farm.

It has an excellent wind resource
There are relatively few residences near the site
It is close to the electricity grid, reducing the length of the transmission line
EIS studies show minimal environmental and social impact

The site land is a rough plateau (elevation 900m) elevated approx 300m above the surrounding plains and is comprised of sparse natural scrubland with some rocky outcrops. The property is currently not used for any particular activity. The surrounding land is predominantly used for agriculture and grazing. The local landmark, Mt Emerald (elevation 1122m) is roughly 2km from the southern boundary of the site.

Environmental Approval Documents

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed Mount Emerald Wind Farm (numbered EPBC 2011/6628 by the Australian Government Department of the Environment) has now been finalised. In accordance with Section 103(3) of the EPBC Act, a draft EIS was released for public comment from 28 May 2014 and 2 July 2014. The period for comment is now closed.

The EIS has been finalised taking account of the comments received. The proposed action is a controlled action under the EPBC Act. The controlling provisions are:

• Listed threatened species and ecological communities (section 18 & 18A)

• Listed migratory species (s20 & s20A)

• World heritage properties (sections 12 & 15A)

• National Heritage places (sections 15B & 15C)

Should assistance be required to view the above documentation please contact RATCH-Australia Corporation Limited via the details above.

EIS MEWF Submissions Report

Vol 1

Vol 2

Vol 3 – App. 1 – EPBC Referral

Vol 3 – App. 2 – MEWF EIS Guidelines

Vol 3 – App. 3 – Referral Agency Response

Vol 3 – App. 4 – Economic Impact Report

Vol 3 – App. 4a – MEWF Economic Impact Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 5 – Mt Emerald Wind Resource and Energy Yield Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 01-05

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 06-09

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 10 Part 1

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 10 Part 2

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 10 Part 3

Vol 3 – App. 6 – Visual Impact Assessment Sect 11 -16

Vol 3 – App. 7 – Mt Emerald Wind Farm – Noise Impact Assessment Appendices

Vol 3 – App. 7a – Mt Emerald Wind Farm – Noise Impact Assessment – EIS Submissions

Vol 3 – App. 8 – Traffic Impact Assessment Report

Vol 3 – App. 8a – Traffic Impact Assessment – Technical Note

Vol 3 – App. 8b – Traffic Impact Assessment – Technical Note 2

Vol 3 – App. 8c – Traffic Impact Assessment – Technical Note 3

Vol 3 – App. 9 – Stakeholder Consultation Program

Vol 3 – App. 9 – Stakeholder Consultation Program Appendix B Part 1

Vol 3 – App. 9 – Stakeholder Consultation Program Appendix B Part 2

Vol 3 – App. 9 – Stakeholder Consultation Program Appendix C

Vol 3 – App. 10 – Cultural Heritage Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 10a – Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 11 – Geotechnical Investigation

Vol 3 – App. 12 – EPBC Act Protected Matters Report and Wildlife Online

Vol 3 – App. 13 – Fauna Survey Summary and Ecological Assessment Report

Vol 3 – App. 14 – MEWF – Threatened Fauna Species Desktop Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 15 – Mount Emeraald Wind Farm – Camera Trapping Results

Vol 3 – App. 16 – MEWF Flora Report Append A-C

Vol 3 – App. 16 – MEWF Flora Report Append D-F

Vol 3 – App. 16 – MEWF Flora Report Append G-I

Vol 3 – App. 16 – MEWF Flora Report

Vol 3 – App. 17 – Population Viability Analysis of Northern Quoll populations in FNQ

Vol 3 – App. 18 – Distribution and abundance of the Northern Quoll in FNQ

Vol 3 – App. 19 – MEWF – EIS – Dasyurus hallucatus Habitat Utilisation Study

Vol 3 – App. 20 – Fauna Vegetation and Flora Assessment – Proposed MEWF

Vol 3 – App. 21 – Dasyurus hallucatus Population Genetics Final Report

Vol 3 – App. 22 – Preliminary detection dog survey for Northern Quoll on Mt Emerald Mareeba QLD

Vol 3 – App. 23 – MEWF Turbine collision risk assessment

Vol 3 – App. 24 – MEWF – Microchiropteran Bat Ultrasonic Call Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 25 – MEWF – An Assessment of Utilisation Patterns of Spectacled Flyingfox

Vol 3 – App. 26 – Innovative technology for assessing wildlife collisions with wind turbines

Vol 3 – App. 27 – MEWF Aeronautical Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 28 – MEWF – Electromagnetic Interference Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 29 – MEWF Fire Management Plan

Vol 3 – App. 30 – MEWF Shadow Flicker Assessment

Vol 3 – App. 31 – Desk Study for Potential Historic Unexploded Ordnance Contamination

Vol 3 – App. 32 – DNRM Concurrent Agency Response to UXO Potential

Vol 3 – App. 33 – Preliminary Environmental Management Plan

Vol 3 – App. 33a – Pest Management Plan

Vol 3 – App. 34 – MEWF EPBC Offsets Assessment Guide

Vol 3 – App. 35 – MEWF Draft Offset Area Management Plan

Vol 3 – App. 36 – RACL Environmental Record

Vol 3 – App. 36a – Environmental History – Port Bajool

Vol 3 – App. 37 – Statement of Commitments

Executive Summary

Development Application Approval Documents

Development Approval conditions have been developed by the Queensland and Commonwealth governments after review of the EIS submitted in 2015.

DA Approval Conditions

Ongoing environmental monitoring, during and after construction, will ensure compliance to approval conditions and the commitments made by RATCH Australia to protect the area and its environmental and social values. To complement these measures, a large offset block has been purchased by RATCH Australia Corporation immediately adjacent to the site and permanently protected as part of the Approval process.

The Offset Block is chosen to protect an area much larger than the area likely to be disturbed during construction of the wind farm. It is chosen according to defined criteria, including that it has similar vegetation and habitat to the area to be impacted by construction of the turbine pads and access roads; and can provide an alternative habitat for fauna during and after construction. The area will be protected into the future to maintain its integrity as an undisturbed area of similar land to the wind farm site.

Other DA documentation, available for download:

Project Newsletters

MEWF November 2017 Newsletter
30th November 2017

MEWF October 2017 Newsletter
16th October 2017

MEWF – Newsletter #14 – August 2017
13th August 2017

MEWF – Newsletter #13 – June 2017
13th August 2017

MEWF – Newsletter #12 – April 2017
1st May 2017

Community

Local Procurement

Local procurement has commenced, with: • Koppens and Mareeba Crane Hire constructing the concrete culvert to protect the irrigation channel during December 2016. • A new vehicle purchased from Mareeba Toyota, January 2017 • Contracting of the MBarBarrum Aboriginal Corporation to undertake Cultural Heritage surveys and assist with environmental surveys during the entire construction period.…

3rd March 2017

Project and Compliance Updates

Feb 2017: Letters of Consent received from Government to begin

Early works commenced February 14th on the transport depot laydown area at the base of the site. All pre-start UXO, Cultural Heritage and Environmental surveys have been conducted to verify the site is ‘ready to go’. Flagging of works area has occurred to limit the extent of clearing, in preparation for pad establishment. Letters of…

3rd March 2017