If approved, the work camp would be located on a block of land adjacent to Warren Truss Drive INSET: The proposed camp

July 14, 2026

by Anne Miller

Final approvals for the Tarong West Wind Farm project are yet to be given the green light by the State Government, but that has not stopped angst in the local community over the site of a proposed work camp for the project.

More than 400 workers would require accommodation at times during the three-year construction period, which is beyond the capacity of local hotels and motels to supply.

RES first raised the location of the required work camp with the South Burnett Regional Council in July last year; and held a pre-lodgement meeting in September.

Suggestions that the camp be built within the footprint of the development were ruled out due to infrastructure issues.

In November, councillors voted to empower staff to enter into negotiations for Council land in the Kingaroy Airport precinct after locations closer to Kumbia were also ruled out due to water concerns.

This vote was not an approval of the camp, which would still require to pass all the usual Development Application processes, but rather an “owner’s consent” for a DA to be lodged.

After another pre-lodgement meeting, RES submitted a Development Application last December for a block near Warren Truss Drive; water reticulation was already present but sewage would have to be connected from 1.3km away and some improvements completed to local roads. Sealed car parks and a bus set-down area would also be constructed.

The full block backs on to the Kingaroy motocross track and was formerly under cultivation but the proposed work camp would be located on the western part of the site, adjacent to Warren Truss Drive.

In May, an amended Development Application was submitted to Council which sought a two-stage development which would create temporary accommodation to accommodate 424 workers as well as 224 car spaces, 15 bus bays and unsealed parking for 192 cars (this was down from the original 504 workers and 285 unsealed parking spots).

Stage 1 would include up to 68 demountable four-bedroom units and central facilities supporting a workforce of up to 272 people for about 27 months.

Stage 2 would be an extra 38 demountable four-bedroom units supporting up to another 152 more people for about 13 months.

There would also be an administration building, kitchen/diner, gym, laundries, industrial canteen and an ablution block.

All the facilities would be temporary demountable buildings, and the site would be rehabilitated to a state as agreed to by Council.

Originally, it was suggested that when the development was decommissioned a “legacy” 100 rooms could remain to service any other future projects in the area but southburnett.com.au has been told this has now been ruled out.

The State Assessment Referral Agency also raised some concerns about traffic impacts which RES answered on July 2.

This new Development Application is now expected to open to Public Notification in the very near future.

The proposed layout of the work camp … the blue section would be the Stage 1 accommodation with Stage 2, in brown, to be added later

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Opposition To The Camp

Kingaroy Observatory’s James Barclay is angry over the proposed work camp which would be located not far from his business

Earlier this year, several accommodation providers in Kingaroy began voicing opposition to the suggested airport work camp.

Residents near the proposed site then joined the complaints, especially after rumours circulated that “legacy” rooms could be used to provide emergency housing for homeless people or to house Swickers workers on the PALM labour scheme (suggestions which have since been ruled out).

Opponents of the Tarong Wind Farm project – and the renewables industry in general – also joined the opposition to the work camp.

An anonymous Facebook group, “Kingaroy Is Not For Sale“, was set up.

This Facebook group is being promoted by a Sunshine Coast-based PR company which has now issued two media releases on behalf of the work camp opponents (see links, below).

The first of these accused Council of “secret negotiations”,  poor communication and questioned its “planning integrity”.

In the release, local resident Grant Arrell labelled the work camp proposal as “one of the most significant governance controversies in the South Burnett’s recent history”.

“We’ve engaged planning experts who have questioned whether such arrangements risk creating the appearance of ‘planning for sale’, where planning outcomes are influenced by infrastructure benefits rather than strategic planning principles,” Mr Arrell said.

(See Council’s response, below).

Kumbia resident Tony Dugdell – who had previously been outspoken at public meetings against the Tarong West Wind Farm – also was quoted as saying his community had been “forgotten in the process”.

“As the town closest to the proposed wind farm, Kumbia will experience the greatest construction impacts, including increased traffic, noise, workforce movements and pressure on local infrastructure. Yet while Kumbia residents bear those impacts, the economic activity associated with workforce accommodation would be relocated to Kingaroy.

“Residents have also raised concerns about increased heavy vehicle and workforce traffic along roads used daily by local families and school children. The town closest to the wind farm faces the traffic, the disruption, the workforce movements and the infrastructure pressures, yet it has been denied the opportunity to host the accommodation and benefit from the associated economic activity.”

Mr Dugdell said the proposal had “galvanised support from organisations that have spent decades building community facilities and volunteer networks around the airport precinct”, naming four organisations – including two which subsequently have asked southburnett.com.au not to name them in connection with the controversy.

(At least one of these groups has also asked the PR company not to include them in future media releases.)

However, one of the people named by Mr Dugdell was more than happy to speak to us. James Barclay, from the Kingaroy Observatory, said he strongly opposed the work camp on the following grounds:

1. The outdoor lighting would take away what dark skies were left for stargazing; his tourism business attracts about 3000 visitors a year

2. Who is going to maintain security at night around the Airport precinct? The Men’s Shed has been broken into, he said, and equipment stolen, and many Soaring Club members have their gliders parked in the grounds could now run the risk of vandalism and or theft.

3.  Warren Truss Drive is not up standard for so much traffic let alone 30 buses and dozens of other vehicles coming and going seven days and nights a week.

“In summary, the Kingaroy Observatory will be severely impacted and possible closure by this project due to uncontrolled outdoor lighting and security,” Dr Barclay said.

He warned that he would fight Council every step of the way over the proposal.

External links:

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The Tarong West Wind Farm would be located across several properties in the Ironpot area, south-west of Kingaroy

Response From RES

A spokesperson for RES said the company was continuing to work closely with landholders, local stakeholders and businesses, Council and the project’s established Community Consultative Committee throughout the development of the Tarong West Wind Farm.

“The proposed temporary workers’ accommodation facility is a two-stage facility designed to accommodate up to 424 construction workers at the peak of the wind farm’s three-year construction period,” the spokesperson said.

“In addition to the significant local economic benefits of the Tarong West Wind Farm, the temporary workers’ accommodation facility represents a proposed $68 million investment in the South Burnett, with more than $20 million expected to flow directly to local businesses.

“Through development, RES conducted a needs analysis of existing accommodation in Kingaroy and the broader South Burnett region.

“That work identified approximately 300 rooms in Kingaroy’s existing accommodation facilities. While the region has a diverse range of suitable accommodation, that capacity is not sufficient to cater for the proposed workforce of the Tarong West Wind Farm, is dispersed across many providers and is already relied upon by other industries and visitors to this wonderful region.

“The proposed facility will help ensure the Tarong West Wind Farm can be delivered without placing additional pressure on existing accommodation, housing and the rental market.

“We are committed to working with local businesses and suppliers to service the temporary workers’ accommodation facility locally during both construction and operation. This also extends to utilising existing accommodation facilities (where capacity exists) for periods where the workforce numbers exceed availability in the camp.

“We respect the role of South Burnett Regional Council as the land owner and assessment manager, and respects the right of community members to participate in the planning process.

“We note that South Burnett Regional Council has recently tabled a draft Kingaroy Airport Masterplan.”

External links:

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Response From SBRC

South Burnett Regional Council also responded to the allegations included in the opponents’ media release.

“Recent comments in the public domain, regarding the worker’s accommodation development application, may be considered misleading and the governance of the project is sound,” a spokesperson said.

“Council understands members of the community have mixed reactions and emotions to new development in the region, be it renewable energy, aerodrome developments or expansions of commercial land into rural areas. Council also respects residents right to have their opinion heard and the freedom to express that viewpoint.

“As part of the feedback to the State Government that approved the Tarong West Wind Farm project, Council advocated for the proponent to include a housing solution for the proposed workforce to undertake the construction.

“Council’s position on any large infrastructure project is that they must include an accommodation solution, this is a result of the community feedback received in the lead up to and through the community-led housing and homelessness forum.

“Council strives to be solution focused. The proponent attended a Council workshop on July 23, 2025, to discuss the project as a whole (the wind turbine construction and the accommodation) in which Council offered the option of utilising land at the aerodrome that had no current lease.

“Council’s objective in this offer was to ease the burden on the Kumbia community.

“A report to Council was provided for consideration as part of the November Ordinary General Meeting which was approved.

“The resolution provided officers with the delegation to enter into negotiations. The position of Council is that the terms and conditions of the lease would not be finalised until an approved Development Application was obtained.

“Council made its position clear to the proponent that it sought to have a legacy project of infrastructure that could be utilised to improve the services to the wider aerodrome and broader community.

“Council in good faith provided landowner’s consent to allow the proponent to lodge the application. The application is now going through the planning process.

“The Development Application process provides an adequate community engagement avenue for residents to provide feedback to Council on the Development.

“Council encourages residents and interested stakeholders to review the applicant’s information on the website and when the applicant provides public notification, provide a properly made submission. Please see Council’s website for more information.

“Council has accepted and attended workshops with residents and members of the public with a commercial conflict with the project at their request which demonstrates the openness and accessibility to Councillors by any member of the community.

“Council will continue to investigate and work with private individuals, not-for-profits and companies to increase the use of the aerodrome and improve its financial sustainability to ease the burden on the wider region’s ratepayers.”

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