FAQ | South Queensland Renewable Generation Hub (SQRGH)

What is the Bungaban Renewable Energy Hub?

The Bungaban Renewable Energy Hub comprises individually permitted, complementary wind and solar projects within one region. Bungaban is located about 40km from Wandoan and 60km from Taroom in rural Queensland, or about 450km north-west of Brisbane.

Bungaban makes strategic use of the ‘inverse correlation’ between the region’s wind and solar profiles - here, the wind picks up when the sun goes down.

This means Bungaban will be one of just a handful of places in the country where clean, low-cost energy can be generated around the clock.

Bungaban is being delivered by a 50/50 joint venture agreement between Windlab and Squadron Energy.

What is the Bungaban wind energy project?

Bungaban Wind is a $3.9 billion, 1.4GW wind energy project located in the Western Downs and Banana Shire regions of Queensland, about 40km from Wandoan and 60km from Taroom, or 450km north-west of Brisbane.

The project will create more than 1,000 jobs during peak construction, and could inject around $500 million into the regional economy through local employment, supply and contracting opportunities. Bungaban Wind is located on land historically cleared and used for grazing for more than 100 years. Once operational, the project will coexist alongside established agriculture operations, with cattle able to graze right up to the base of turbines.

What is the approvals process like for these projects?

Our development pathway is an iterative process that unfolds over a number of years.

Through this process, an initial concept design for a project is scrutinised against extensive environmental and resource studies and refined based on detailed and ongoing consultation with the local community, regional stakeholders, conservation groups, resource management and regulatory authorities.

All proposed renewable energy developments in Queensland require distinct approvals from Local, State and Federal Government authorities.

Bungaban Wind is most mature project and we are currently working through the significant requirements that underpin the State and Federal approvals for renewable energy projects in Queensland. We will keep community and project stakeholders informed as this work progresses.

Federal Government Requirements

At the Federal level, projects are assessed against the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), which protects matters of national environmental significance. The EPBC Referral for Bungaban was submitted in January 2024, and the project will be assessed by Preliminary Documentation under the Act. The Preliminary Documentation will be made available to the public for comment for a minimum of 20 days once submitted.

State Government Requirements

Bungaban must also meet the requirements of Queensland’s State Planning assessment provisions. The Queensland Government assesses compliance against a number of measures including vegetation management, visual amenity and acoustic amenity.

Finally, specific activities to enable project delivery can require local government approval, for example, upgrades to council roads or infrastructure to transport components, etc.

How can I have my say?

We highly value community feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts and questions with us. Our project team is available to answer any questions you have, and we encourage you to get in touch.

Phone: 1800 846 980

Email: bungaban@windlab.com

Additionally, the Bungaban wind energy project has been referred under the EPBC Act, and there will be an opportunity for public submissions during the public exhibition period once the Preliminary Documentation is submitted.

What steps are being taken to ensure community concerns are addressed?

Over the past few years, we have had the pleasure of getting to know the people of the Western Downs and Banana Shire regions and other project stakeholders, learning more about their priorities. We ensure Traditional Owners, landowners, neighbours, community members, and stakeholders are included in the development process, have the opportunity to be heard, and the assurance their questions will be addressed.

As we work through the project approvals process, we will continue to seek the community’s insights and provide opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback. This can be face-to-face wherever possible, as well as through phone and email consultation.

Bungaban is committed to engaging consistently and respectfully with local landholders and communities to create a positive legacy in the region. We have conducted nearly 60 in-person sessions with local councils, regional interest groups, and Traditional Owners over two years before submitting the development application and finalising the project design. Additionally, we have hosted nine community information sessions and encouraged broad community participation.

Our approach includes providing multiple ways for the community to share their views, such as a dedicated 1800 number, email address, and project-specific website. We frame our engagement through an understanding of the local community's lived experience and lessons learned from previous major projects. We consider and respond to community input, clearly advising on potential impacts and supporting local employment and procurement opportunities.

By consulting on the available options and engaging with specific stakeholders, we ensure that the community's views and input are considered and actioned where appropriate.

To learn more about the project or to provide feedback, contact the project team on 1800 846 980 or via info@bungaban.com

How much land will Bungaban Wind take up?

Based on the current project design, Bungaban Wind will occupy around 1 per cent of the combined area of its host cattle properties once operational.

The maximum temporary development footprint during construction will be around 5 per cent of the total area of all host properties. This includes changes of any kind to the existing grazing properties, including previously cleared roads, tracks and agricultural pasture.

More than 99 per cent of the project’s development footprint occurs within non-remnant, historically cleared and disturbed land, with critical infrastructure positioned away from sensitive areas, minimising overall biodiversity impacts.

Once construction and commissioning is complete, we will start rehabilitating and progressively restoring up to 80 per cent of the development footprint.

How will the project connect to the transmission network?

The transmission infrastructure proposed for the project includes a new 275kV double circuit transmission line within a 100m-wide easement located between Powerlink’s existing Wandoan South Substation and a new substation to be built within the wind farm development. The length and location of new line required will be determined following a comprehensive consultation process with landholders, Traditional Owner groups, the community and other stakeholders.

Check out Powerlink's website for more information about the Bungaban Wind Farm Connection Project.

Where does the energy go?

Energy produced by Bungaban will connect to Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) to support the delivery of clean, competitively priced power to Queensland homes, business and large industry.

A landmark Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto, means eighty per cent of the energy generated for the NEM by this project is allocated towards supplying critical minerals processing facilities in Gladstone.

This agreement highlights the importance of large-scale renewable energy projects in supporting the long-term future of Queensland’s powerhouse traditional industries like Gladstone’s metals smelting and refining operations. These industries employ thousands of people in regional communities across the state and have a key role to play in our nation’s low-carbon future.

The remaining 20 per cent of clean energy produced by Bungaban is allocated to the NEM, for delivery to Queensland homes and businesses.

How will the wind turbines and equipment get to site?

Turbine components and heavy equipment will most likely travel to site from the Port of Brisbane via Toowoomba, Miles and Wandoan along the Warrego and Leichhardt highways.

Where required, Windlab will support upgrades to state and local roads to facilitate the safe and efficient transport of large components. A Traffic Management Plan will be developed in consultation with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and local councils to minimise impacts to road users, maintain access to properties, manage traffic flows.

We understand that managing traffic impacts is important. We are committed to working will local authorities to minimise the potential temporary impacts to road users.

Where will the project’s turbines and ancillary components be sourced?

Ancillary components that can be manufactured in the region and procured competitively will be sourced from local suppliers wherever possible.

Australia currently lacks industrial manufacturing capacity for some major project components, such as wind turbine generators. These will be sourced from established global manufacturers via reputable Australian suppliers.

Where will the workers come from?

The Western Downs and Banana Shire regions have well-established foundational industries and a skilled industrial workforce. We will work with regional communities and stakeholders to maximise opportunities for local people and businesses in a sustainable way.

The projects have strict local content requirements and as part of our tender evaluation process, contractors bidding for packages will submit local content plans to demonstrate how they will maximise local employment and opportunities for regional businesses.

Due to the scale of the Bungaban project and the specialist skills required, some of the construction workforce may come from other parts of Queensland. We will gather local feedback to understand the preferred way of housing out-of-town workers during construction to minimise disruption.

How can local businesses get involved in the project?

Local businesses can get involved in Bungaban by registering their interest in employment, trade, or supply opportunities through our website. We are committed to supporting local businesses and fostering regional economic growth.

To facilitate this, we encourage local businesses to contact us directly via email to express their interest and stay updated on upcoming opportunities. This initiative is part of our broader commitment to building strong, long-term relationships with the local community and ensuring that the benefits of the project are shared widely.

By participating, local businesses can contribute to and benefit from the project's development, helping to create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the region. We encourage all interested businesses to reach out and take advantage of the opportunities available.

For more detailed information and to register your interest, please email us at info@bungaban.com.

Will Windlab be providing sponsorships and donations for community groups?

Yes. Bungaban is committed to unlocking high-value, sustainable development opportunities for our host communities over the life of our projects (30+ years).

An annual Community Benefit Fund will be established once Bungaban Wind reaches financial close to support stakeholder and community-led projects that deliver on local aspirations and establish a positive legacy.

The Fund will be structured into two funding groups:

Donations and sponsorships: Grassroots initiatives and community events to support local vibrancy and connection.
Community partnerships and legacy projects: Long-term capacity building projects that support sustainable socio-economic development, and regional community and environment resilience.

During development, we have been running the Bungaban Community Benefit Fund pilot program, supporting local priorities such as sports funding, infrastructure upgrades and local community events. The full-scale Bungaban Community Benefit Fund will be launched once the project reaches financial close.

What benefits will Bungaban bring to the region?

Bungaban is poised to bring substantial benefits to the Western Downs and Banana Shire regions, which are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the renewable energy transition. With high-value renewable energy resources, land-use compatibility, good foundational infrastructure, and a skilled industrial workforce, these regions are ready to support the project's construction. During this phase, Bungaban will create around 1000 jobs and inject an estimated $500 million into the regional economy through local employment, supply, and contracting opportunities.

Engaging early in the development phase allows us to collaborate with local communities to understand their interests and capacities. This approach helps us support local skills development and create opportunities for local businesses. Additionally, a landmark Power Purchase Agreement will see Bungaban supporting the sustainable future of central Queensland’s metals and advanced manufacturing industries. These industries are crucial to Australia’s low-carbon future and employ thousands of people in regional communities across the state.

We are committed to building a lasting positive legacy by investing significantly in sustainable regional development initiatives that matter to the communities. Contact us to register your early interest in employment, trade, or supply opportunities.

What is the project's PPA and what does it mean?

The Bungaban wind energy project has a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Rio Tinto, marking Australia's largest renewable power deal to date.

Through this PPA, Rio Tinto has contracted 80% of Bungaban’s output, ensuring the long-term sustainability and strategic advantage of the Boyne Smelter, Yarwun Refinery, and Queensland Alumina Refinery, which employ over 3,000 people in the Gladstone region. The remaining 20% of the energy generated is enough to supply around one in every 13 Queensland households. This agreement ensures a stable and long-term market for the project's renewable energy, significantly contributing to Rio Tinto's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and support sustainable industrial operations in Queensland.

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How will you manage any potential impacts from the project?

One of the most effective ways we manage potential impacts is by avoiding or minimising them through design. We do this by ensuring local input and robust evidence informs the design and management approach on our projects from early in the development phase.

This means investing in robust impact assessment and mitigation studies, and providing regular opportunities for local people and stakeholders to build their understanding of the project, provide feedback on the design options and alternatives, and talk with the project team about their concerns and priorities.

Throughout the development phase, we continuously refine the project’s design in a way that balances all the inputs gathered through the process – from land use constraints and stakeholder feedback to ecology survey results, wind energy yield data and construction logistics.

Where the potential impacts can’t be avoided, we work with locals to ensure management approaches and regulatory requirements are clearly understood and aligned with community expectations.

Will the project impact remnant native vegetation?

Remnant vegetation makes up less than 0.3 per cent (6.72ha) of Bungban Wind's temporary development footprint with the remaining 99.7 per cent comprised of non-remnant, historically cleared and disturbed land.

More than 80 per cent of the temporary development footprint will be rehabilitated and progressively restored once construction activity has finished.

Will the project impact the productivity of existing agricultural operations?

Renewable energy projects are highly compatible with grazing operations, with cattle able to graze around the base of the turbines.

Once operational, Bungaban Wind will occupy around 1 per cent of the total combined area of its host cattle properties.

Our design process includes early consultation with host landholders to develop a project layout that minimises disruption to farming practices.

Additionally, hosting renewable energy projects can help landholders diversify their operations, and provides a predictable annual income stream that can insulate against feed and stock price volatility and the impact of drought and other severe weather events on production.

Are wind farms noisy?

Wind turbines make low levels of noise which drop significantly the further you are from the turbine. For example, from a 500-metre distance, modern wind turbines have an average sound level around 40 decibels, which is about the same as a household refrigerator.

In Queensland wind turbines cannot be placed within 1.5km of an occupied dwelling. At the mandatory 1.5km set back, wind turbine noise is unlikely to be audible over background noise levels, which are around 30 decibels on average in the stillest, most remote rural areas.

As a condition of Development Approval, all wind farms must comply with strict State regulatory requirements that ensure any potential risk of noise from the project does not exceed maximum thresholds.

Isn’t renewable energy unreliable?

No. While Australia’s abundant solar and wind resources are highly predictable, they are variable throughout the day, across the seasons, and between locations. For this reason, the location of new renewable energy developments matters, and getting the balance right between wind and solar generation is critical.

Key areas of Queensland are home to a strategically critical wind energy resource that is ‘inversely correlated’ with solar, and wind generation in other parts of the country.

Bungaban is in an area where the wind picks up as the sun goes down. This means the projects will be among just a handful of renewable energy developments in the country with the potential to generate clean, low-cost energy around the clock from a single location.

I’ve heard adding new renewable energy generation can make the transmission network less stable. Is this true?

All energy generators connecting to the grid must address a range of stringent, project-specific technical requirements to ensure system security and reliability. In Queensland, the transmission network is publicly owned and operated by Powerlink. Powerlink works with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to ensure any generator connecting to the grid meets AEMO’s comprehensive Generator Performance Standards.

Bungaban Wind will use advanced grid-forming inverters with integrated energy storage to meet these technical connection requirements.

An added benefit of the grid-forming technology being used within Bungaban is it can contain excess energy in the grid and redeploy it when it's needed, increasing the efficiency of the energy system overall.

What happens when Bungaban reaches the end of its operational life?

When renewable energy projects reach the end of their life, all above ground project infrastructure is dismantled and removed from the site. The operating footprint, including tracks, hardstands or laydown areas that had to be maintained throughout the operating phase, will be rehabilitated and restored to native ecosystems in line with our commitments to our landholders and regulatory requirements.

End-of-asset life decommissioning and rehabilitation plans are a regulatory requirement, and a condition of development approval in Queensland.

We take this commitment further by including decommissioning planning and financing conditions into lease agreements with host landholders before construction even starts.

Why this location?

In assessing this project site for development, we considered a range of factors, on balance, to determine the site’s suitability; primarily:

The location, quality, relatability and nature of the resource

Renewable energy projects must be located where a suitable resource is present.
To be suitable for clean energy generation, wind and solar resources must have specific characteristics to be viable and ensure reliable and cost-effective supply of energy to the grid.

Proximity to thermal power generation

Close proximity to aging thermal power generation plants allows for reuse of established grid connections and substation infrastructure, reducing the need for significant network investments and minimising project costs.
Continuity of local jobs and economies, facilitating a smoother transition to clean energy while building new opportunities in communities familiar with energy production.

Existing use of the land and environmental constraints

Renewable energy projects should be compatible with the existing use of the land. Bungaban is located on land used for grazing cattle, with a large extent of historical clearing, and these operations will continue alongside energy generation.

Our ability to responsibly deliver a balanced project

To be feasible, a project must be able to be responsibly developed, financed and constructed in a way that delivers lasting value to our shareholders, stakeholders and the community and in line with regulatory obligations.

Who is Windlab?

‍Windlab is Australia’s clean energy pioneer with deep expertise in the development of innovative wind and solar projects, delivered with a strong focus on community, Country and long-term outcomes. Drawing on its CSIRO origins, Windlab is recognised for its proprietary WindScape and GridScape technologies and has helped shape around 20% of all connected wind projects in Australia’s National Electricity Market.

Windlab employs about 90 people located across metro and regional Australia and has four offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

For more information about Windlab, visit www.windlab.com.

Frequently asked questions

Have questions?

Contact us and a member of our project team will get back to you.

South Queensland
Renewable Generation Hub

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