Construction of Australia’s biggest wind farm sparks backlash from Mount Fox residents

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has secured funding and will soon begin construction of the Gawara Baya wind farm, the nation’s largest, on land surrounding the dormant volcano Mount Fox in north Queensland. The 148-hectare site will host 68 turbines up to 140 metres tall and a 100-megawatt battery, marking the first project to move forward under the federal Capacity Investment Scheme. While officials highlight the project’s role in meeting the 2030 renewable-energy goal and promise roughly 500 construction jobs, many of the 84 local residents, organized under Keep Mount Fox Wild, fear damage to the adjacent Wet Tropics World Heritage area, runoff affecting the Great Barrier Reef, and long-term land degradation.

Community leader Kim Armstrong argues the town bears the cost of climate policies decided far away in Canberra. Project CEO Mark Branson stresses that rigorous environmental assessments and extensive community engagement have been completed, and that the wind farm will help replace aging coal assets. Local officials, including deputy mayor Mary Brown, note strong attendance at consultation meetings and anticipate economic diversification, but residents remain prepared to protest, with Armstrong saying she would lie down in front of a bulldozer if necessary.