Bungaban Connection Project Social Impact Assessment

The South Queensland Renewable Generation Hub, which includes the Bungaban Wind Farm, is being developed by renewable energy proponent Windlab Developments Pty Ltd (Windlab). This overall project is comprised of individually permitted and complementary wind, solar and battery storage projects within one region. The Hub is located about 40km from Wandoan and 60km from Taroom in rural Queensland, or about 450km north-west of Brisbane. The closest airport is located at Roma.

The Bungaban Wind Farm is a 1.4GW wind energy project with 180 turbines and is the most mature of the renewable projects planned for this Hub. The Bungaban Windfarm Connection Project (the project) is a 70km-long 275kV double circuit transmission line connecting the proposed Bungaban Wind Farm into Powerlink’s existing Wandoan South Substation. A final corridor for this transmission line has been identified, as demonstrated below.

Social impact assessment context

Powerlink has undertaken research and engagement to reach a final corridor for the Bungaban Windfarm Connection Project. As part of this research, Powerlink’s Community and Social Performance team have embarked on work to understand the social context for the project. This community insights research has provided a foundational understanding of the community hosting the proposed transmission line and has culminated in the development of a Community Insights Report, which contains:

• Defined Social Locality

• Demographic profile for the social locality

• Cultural Diversity and Cultural heritage summary

• Summary of socio-economic advantage and disadvantage

• Overview of land use in the vicinity of the corridor

• Community values and sentiment summary

• High level overview of housing concerns in the region

• Summary of workforce and industry statistics

• Overview of education statistics

• Summary of health and wellbeing statistics and priorities

• Summary of industry and major projects

• Overview of telecommunication matters

• Overview of community resilience considerations

• High level summary of community and stakeholder engagement findings.

• Summary of community insights and potential implications.

There are multiple projects occurring in the Wandoan area and Western Downs neighbouring regions. Western Downs Regional Council and other key stakeholders, such as the Wandoan Chamber of Commerce, seek consideration of the cumulative effects of the projects, in addition to coordination and efficiency of processes such as the development of SIAs. Concern for engagement fatigue has been highlighted. Windlab has commissioned an SIA for the Bungaban Wind Farm project.