The Planning Minister has called in a proposed coal-fired power station on a cattle property located 30 kilometres north-west of the town of Alpha.
Waratah Coal lodged a code assessable development application with the Barcaldine Regional Council under an outdated 2006 planning scheme. The application did not require public consultation.
Planning Minister Steven Miles said the call in will make sure a thorough planning assessment can be made on the project and the community get their say.
“Barcaldine Regional Council has never assessed a project of this size. This call in allows the State to address a broader range of matters than the council was able to under their planning scheme,” Mr Miles said.
“This will include seeking public comment on the project. I want to make sure the community get their say on a project of this scale.”
Mr Miles said the recent notice proposing to call in the project gave an opportunity for interested parties to make representations regarding the proposed call in.
“Council’s initial assessment work was very useful to the planning department in their preparation of advice, and this was considered along with representations from interested parties regarding the proposed call in,” he said.
“We will now commence assessment of the application in accordance with the Development Assessment Rules and the Planning Act 2016, starting with the issuing of a confirmation notice.”
