Arabic version: تقليص مقترح مزرعة رياح في ويتصندايز بعد معارضة

According to ABC News, Alinta Energy has scaled back its proposed Mt Challenger Wind Farm in the Whitsundays after wind monitoring found insufficient wind at the southern end of the site and residents raised concerns. The original plan included 30 turbines near cane and cattle farms between Proserpine and Bowen.

A company map had proposed 14 turbines in the southern Crystal Brook area and 16 in the northern Mount Challenger area. Alinta Energy general manager of development Andreas Maasing said six months of local monitoring did not support the positive indications previously seen in satellite data for the southern section.

In an email to landholders, Mr Maasing said the company had also considered feedback from community consultation, including concerns about turbines in the area. Alinta will continue examining the feasibility of the northern project, which would be on property owned by a single landholder. It is also continuing to propose a solar farm at the southern end and has asked Whitsunday Regional Council to extend its planning and development application.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition opposing the wind farm. Crystal Brook cane farmer Darren Lee said opposition would continue until the entire project was abandoned, while calling for larger setbacks from property boundaries and guarantees for decommissioning funds. Kelly Dalling, whose property is between the two proposed areas, welcomed the southern reduction but said she remained concerned for northern neighbours.