Plans for a solar farm just outside of Kingaroy in South East Queensland have been shot down by the South Burnett regional council, amid worries of wasting ‘Class A’ agricultural land.
Renewable energy company Terrain Solar have proposed an 80 hectare solar farm 3 kms outside urban development, predicted to generate over 100,000 megawatt hours each year, or enough to power over 15,000 Queensland homes.
Mayor Keith Campbell said the refusal is supported by claims the good quality agricultural land will never again be able to be cropped; however, manager of Terrain Solar said that at the end of the solar farm's life, the land will be restored to its pre-existing use and value, with all infrastructure being recycled or used for scrap metal.