queensland’s wind farm code

Queensland’s Wind Farm Code (State Code 23) for the planning assessment of wind farms is being reviewed from 7 August – 4 September.

The review aims to establish clearer benchmarks for managing the impacts of wind farm developments and to boost confidence in clean energy projects among both the community and the industry.

The current Wind Farm Code and its guidelines already incorporate requirements to minimise adverse impacts on the natural environment, visual amenity, air services, transport networks, and noise levels. The review will further enhance the code by addressing key areas, such as protecting high ecological and biodiversity value areas, safeguarding the Great Barrier Reef from construction impacts, identifying viable haulage routes upfront, adopting current best practices for acoustic criteria, emphasising rehabilitation requirements, and investigating the impact on local workforces and accommodation during construction.

The State Code guideline will be amended to reflect these changes and provide clarity on framing and supporting wind farm applications in alignment with the code. With the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan expected to present more opportunities for wind farm developments in the future, we can expect to see significant growth in this area.