RPS’ Cairns team have provided essential planning and environmental expertise for the Mount Emerald Wind Farm, one of Queensland’s largest wind farms powering 75,000 homes across Far North Queensland.
With many years of experience leading projects through complex approval pathways, our Cairns planning and environmental specialists were engaged by independent power producer RATCH-Australia Corporation to support the planning of the wind farm.
Using our deep expertise in supporting renewable energy projects and local knowledge, we prepared a planning application and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.
In prepare the planning application and EIS our team of specialists undertook detailed assessments for heritage, ecology, and visual, ground and surface water impacts for the $380m project.
Though the impact assessments we identified that the site was home to populations of endangered northern quoll, vulnerable Spectacled Flying Fox and critically endangered Bare Rumped Sheathail Bat, as well as six protected floral species.
Our team of specialists provided guidance and strategies on how to minimise the impact on these species, and we successfully negotiated an ecological offset to mitigate any potential impacts of the wind farm on the environment.
Following planning approval for the construction of the wind farm, our environmental team continued to provide ongoing support, including third party auditing, throughout the construction and into the operational phase.
Completed in 2018, the Mount Emerald Wind Farm is helping to power up to 75,000 homes with 500-600 million KWh of safe, clean, renewable electricity every year.
Our team continues to provide ongoing environmental and surveying services to enhance the operations of the Mount Emerald Wind Farm.
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