In December 2024, Townsville City Council approved a minor amendment to the development approval, extending the project’s lifespan to 40 years to align with current solar farm lifespans. The approval was also revised to include a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) ancillary to the solar farm, which will support utilities in delivering electricity during peak demand periods and enhance overall energy security.
To ensure the addition of the BESS would not have a significant impact on nearby residences, an additional noise assessment was undertaken as part of the amendment process.
The project was referred to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act). In November 2025 it was determined that the project was not deemed a controlled action, and no further Commonwealth approval is required.
All documentation related to the project and the planning approval process can be found below.
Additional documents will be added as they become available.
