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The Miles Government has today welcomed CS Energy acquiring the $1.3 billion Lotus Creek Wind Farm near St Lawrence from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
- Publicly-owned CS Energy issues notice to proceed for the 285MW Lotus Creek Wind Farm near St Lawrence.
- The Miles Government is backing the project with $924 million in funding commitments to date.
- It will create around 400 construction jobs and 10 – 15 ongoing operational jobs.
- Contributes towards government commitment to producing 70% renewable energy by 2032, and 80% by 2035 as part of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
The acquisition makes the project the first 100 per cent publicly owned wind farm to reach the construction phase under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will help deliver the 285 MW project, and Vestas and Zenviron have been appointed to lead equipment supply and construction, which will commence in the coming weeks.
The project will feature 46 wind turbines and produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 150,000 homes.
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It will also provide an economic boost to the region by creating approximately 400 jobs during construction and up to 15 ongoing operational roles.
The Lotus Creek Wind Farm is backed by $624.3 million from the Miles Government’s Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund and $300 million from coal royalties announced in the 2023-24 Budget. This project is underpinned by the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan objectives of fostering economic growth, promoting local employment, and supporting regional communities.
The project has received State and Federal government approvals and is subject to a range of best practice conditions, including securing more than 4,500 hectares of land in the region to be improved and protected in perpetuity as environmental offsets.
Vestas and Zenviron worked closely during the development phase with the Barada Barna People and Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala (BKY) People, the Traditional Owner groups of the project.
The project will continue to work together with the Traditional Owner groups to increase employment opportunities for members of indigenous communities.
Further information:
- CS Energy has acquired 100 per cent of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). CIP has developed the project and will now oversee the construction of the wind farm.
- Vestas will supply and install the 46 wind turbines for the project and has also been appointed to deliver the long term service contract.
- Zenviron has partnered with Vestas in a project consortium in which Zenviron will deliver the balance-of-plant civil and electrical works along with the workforce camp.
- The project approved by State and Federal authorities involves a completely different location and design than an earlier iteration of the Lotus Creek Wind Farm that was withdrawn from the Federal EPBC application process in 2020.
- The Lotus Creek Wind Farm has been designed to minimise the impact to ecological values.
- The wind farm is expected to be operational in 2027, following commissioning in the final quarter of 2026.
