Farmers rally against renewables in Brisbane

Farmers have rallied against reckless renewables outside Queensland Parliament House, urging Labor to rethink its plans to destroy prime agricultural land and pristine rainforest and animal habitat throughout Queensland.

The farmers, from all different parts of the state, are warning Labor’s commitment of $200 million for wind farm projects in central Queensland, along with plans for the $14.2 billion Borumba Pumped Hydro and the Forest Wind projects in Wide Bay, as well as a $12 billion five-gigawatt Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Scheme in the Eungella and Pioneer Valley region, will have devastating consequences.

Federal Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s reckless race to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030 needed a Senate Inquiry.

“The Nationals have been attempting to get a Senate Inquiry into renewables because irreversible damage to Queensland’s rainforest and wildlife is at risk,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The Nationals wholeheartedly standby and support our farmers who are rallying outside Queensland Parliament House. They just want common sense to prevail.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said families in the Eungella and Pioneer Valley were facing an uncertain future, with the Queensland Labor Government forging ahead with plans to flood the region and build the world’s biggest hydro project.

“Eungella, best known for its pristine rainforests and platypus, which inhabit the rivers and creeks, will be inundated with two dams forming the top reservoirs,” Ms Landry said.

“The energy required to power the hydro plant will need wind turbines and a solar field, while prime farming land will also go under. It’s hypocritical of Labor and the Greens to be more than willing to sacrifice the environment in the name of renewable energy.”

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said Wide Bay was the battle ground where local property owners were standing up for their rights and rightfully demanding their voices be heard.

“The Borumba Pumped Hydro and Forest Wind projects and their associated transmission lines will threaten communities from the Fraser Coast to Gympie, and through the South Burnett, affecting private land holders, natural habitats and remnant vegetation, and governments must listen to the voices of our community,” Mr O’Brien said.

Senator for Queensland Matt Canavan said wind and solar companies were running roughshod over our farmers and our landscapes with very little oversight.

"We've been trying to get a Senate Inquiry into how these developments and transmission lines are being managed for months and it has been blocked every time by the Labor-Greens Government,” Senator Canavan said.

"Labor needs to be listening to the communities that are being impacted from these decisions rather than the mostly foreign owned renewable companies."

Federal Member for Flynn Colin Boyce said there were many people, not only in the Flynn electorate, but across the country, who were fighting battles against renewable companies.

“This all directly correlates with the fact that the renewable energy sector is proposing huge infrastructure projects to meet Minister Bowen’s 82 per cent renewable energy target by 2030,” Mr Boyce said.

“These projects are now seen to be having an enormous impact, particularly in rural and regional Queensland, which I outlined in my maiden speech over 12 months ago. I stand with landholders affected by large scale renewable projects.”

Katy McCallum from the Kilkivan Action Group said the local community “completely objected” to Labor’s plans.

“Our major concern is the destruction of our stunning district and irreparable damage to the environment, where so much amazing flora and fauna live,” Mrs McCallum said.

“The Borumba Pumped Hydro project has not met its requirements under social licence and nobody in our area wants it.”

Sixth-generation beef grazier and rally MC Glen Kelly said the rally was being held because regional communities felt increasingly anxious.

“Labor’s plans are not looking after the environment – they are destroying it,” Mr Kelly said.

“The Moah Creek project will see up to 60, 275-metre turbines along 300 to 400-metre high mountain ridges.

“These things are huge - the sweep area of the blades is the size of five football fields. The Moah wind factory will clear 654 hectares of vegetation. It’ll also need 120 megalitres, or 60 Olympic-sized pools, of water for dust suppression and the concrete foundations. About 23 Olympic-sized swimming pools of concrete will go into the ground and will never be removed.

“We are asking Labor to stop its reckless race, before it’s too late.”