The Bungaban Wind Energy Project has secured approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), Australia's federal legislation on environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. According to the developers, this authorization completes the project's major government approvals pathway and supports continued progress toward financial close and delivery.

One of Queensland's largest proposed wind projects

Located between Wandoan and Taroom in Queensland, on Iman and Auburn Hawkwood Country, Bungaban Wind ranks among the state's largest proposed renewable energy projects. Once operational, it could power the equivalent of around 860,000 Queensland homes and displace approximately 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year, according to the developers. The project, with capacity of up to 1.4GW, received Queensland state development approval in 2025. It is being developed as a joint venture between Windlab and Squadron Energy and has been designed to coexist with existing grazing operations.

The federal approval follows more than three years of environmental assessment work, including over 1,600 hours of ecological surveys and extensive cross-seasonal field studies. Through successive design refinements, the project has been sited to minimize impacts, with more than 99.5 percent of the wind farm's construction footprint located within so-called non-remnant zones, according to the joint venture. Kimberly Cram, MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), Project Director for the Bungaban Joint Venture, said the project's significance extends beyond its scale, reflecting what she described as years of work to balance environmental, community and economic outcomes. "The result is a project that can deliver clean energy, regional investment, and long-term community benefits while respecting the environmental and agricultural values that make this part of Queensland special," she said.

A community benefit framework worth more than $32 million

Six years of environmental and technical studies, community engagement and social impact assessment have helped shape the project's design and community benefit framework around local priorities, according to the joint venture. The framework is expected to deliver more than $32.5 million (50 million Australian dollars) in community and First Nations benefits over the life of the project, through a Community Benefit Fund, a First Nations Benefits Fund, a Good Neighbour Shared Benefit Program and various legacy initiatives. The project's Pilot Community Benefit Fund and Good Neighbour Shared Benefit initiative have already injected more than $114,000 (175,000 Australian dollars) locally to date, according to the developers.

Bungaban Wind is expected to contribute around $325 million (500 million Australian dollars) to the regional economy through local employment, supply and contracting opportunities. Around 1,000 jobs are anticipated at peak construction, according to the joint venture.