The Darumbal People are the Traditional Custodians for the Moah Creek Solar Farm Project with deep and continual connection to land, sea, sky, waterways and community.

Listening to and learning from all First Nations people is a cornerstone to the CQP development process. CQP works with First Nations people from the early stages of projects to explore opportunities for genuine partnerships and long-term benefits.

CQP is committed to fully understanding First Nations peoples’ relationship with and use of the land, to minimise any impact on the cultural heritage importance of our proposed site. Solar farms are required to adhere to all legal regulations concerning the preservation of cultural heritage.

For CQP projects we seek to enter into voluntary Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP) with the respective First Nations groups to identify and mitigate impacts, ensure the project is sustainably developed, and to ensure a cultural legacy remains for future generations.

CQP undertakes a rigorous assessment process to identify our development sites. The site location for the Moah Creek Solar Farm (the Project) has been selected as it is considered to meet the following criteria:

• Excellent exposure to Australia’s world class solar resource

• Close to the grid transmission network with available capacity

• Proximity to existing infrastructure such as roads

• Very low environmental impacts - the Project site has minimal native vegetation coverage and was historically cleared for grazing

• Removed from areas subject to significant topography and flood risk

• Located on land that is not significantly built up, with limited nearby dwellings.

Whilst they are located on adjoining land, the Moah Creek Solar Farm is a separate and distinct project to the Moah Creek Wind Farm.

The wind farm and the solar farm are not dependent on one another, will operate independently, and will require different specialised skills during the Projects’ lifetimes.

Where possible, CQP will look to capitalise on synergies between the Projects to minimise impacts on the community and the environment.

For projects the size of this solar farm it is important that we build and maintain strong, and positive relationships with the neighbours, the community and other stakeholders based on trust, respect, authenticity and openness.

During the development phase of the project, CQP’s approach is to undertake extensive consultation with a wide range of relevant stakeholders to address questions from the community, explore issues or feedback, and understand local constraints.

CQP is committed to continuously engage with stakeholders throughout our Project’s life. We do this through a project website, letters, newsletters, information sessions and discussions with community groups and individuals.

We have established a ‘Community Consultative Committee’ (CCC)for the Moah Creek Renewable Energy Projects. The CCC comprises community representatives who volunteer to engage regularly with the project team.

The role of the CCC is to facilitate structured and productive communication between CQP and the community about the Project, encourage community participation in decision making processes and address any concerns the community may have.

Whilst the CCC is already established, we are still inviting expressions of interest from community members to join the CCC. You can apply here online: https://forms.office.com/e/kHKnc5xfXS

CQP is committed to applying first principles of avoidance and minimisation in the development of the Project.

CQP has identified a ‘development footprint’ for the project area, which has been created based on ecological field surveys and available ecology mapping to avoid areas of remnant vegetation and protected flora/fauna habitat. Based on the current design, 97% of the Project’s footprint is located on land that has previously been cleared.

This development footprint has also applied a significant buffer from other areas of potential ecological sensitivity, including watercourses and drainage lines, to minimise the risk of sedimentation associated with the Project.

The Central Queensland region is identified as a critical location for future renewable energy development. Renewable energy projects will be key to the future success of the Central Queensland Region as coal-fired power plants are decommissioned in the coming years.

In addition to providing power to keep the lights on for residential consumers, renewable energy projects are critical to the long-term success of the region’s industrial land uses.

Heavy industry and resource processing land uses are key to Central Queensland’s economic future, and the delivery of renewable energy will facilitate the reduction of the carbon footprint and emissions of these crucial industries.

The Moah Creek Solar Farm project is expected to deliver the following additional benefits:

• An expected investment of approximately $600 million to deliver the Project, providing direct and indirect economic benefits to the Central Queensland region.

• The creation of up to 300 jobs during the construction phase of the Project and indirect supply chain jobs (e.g. vehicles servicing, plant and equipment hire, uniform suppliers, hotels/motels, cafes, restaurants, tradespeople, etc.).

• The creation of up to 10 ongoing local jobs and indirect local jobs during the Project’s operational period.

The land is currently used for cattle grazing, which would likely be displaced within the parts of the site used for solar farm infrastructure for the life of the Project. However, cattle grazing will remain part of the land use for portions of the site not being used for the solar farm, and our design will actively encourage and allow for these activities.

Other agricultural land uses including, sheep grazing, could continue in areas utilised for the solar farm infrastructure. CQP is working closely with landowners to understand what further opportunities could be harnessed to allow for coexistence with the Project.

The solar farm will not affect farming operations on neighbouring properties and the Project will not have any long-term effect on the agricultural potential or land use of the site, beyond the life of the solar farm.

Moah Creek Solar Farm is wholly owned by Central Queensland Power (CQP): a joint venture (JV) between RES and Energy Estate.

This JV was established to collaboratively develop a portfolio of renewable energy projects in the Central Queensland region. This portfolio approach ensures long term regional growth, accounts for grid complexities and is of adequate scale to replace existing coal and meet the energy needs of industrial users in the region.

RES develop, construct and operate renewable energy assets across the world. Over more than 40 years RES has delivered more than 23 GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 12 GW worldwide.

Energy Estate is passionately committed to accelerating the diversification and decarbonisation of the energy sector and is proud to be the leading developer and strategic designer of advanced industrial precincts across Australia.

With its partners, Energy Estate is developing large scale renewable energy and green hydrogen projects in Queensland and New South Wales, and internationally. CQP has extensive expertise to deliver renewable energy projects, however, also relies on reputable and qualified consultants including; Umwelt, AHS, DNV, Lat27, Aviation Projects, Access Traffic Consulting, Marshall Day and LEC Land and Environment Consultants.

Solar farms are typically built and operated by contractors acting for the owner.

For construction, it is common to have two primary construction contractors:

• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Contractor.

• Balance of Plant (BOP) Contractor.

Following construction, an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Contract to manage the operation of the solar farm will be in place. At this stage of the Project, the contractors responsible for the construction and operation of the solar farm have not been selected.

The solar infrastructure associated with the Project will be largely constructed of glass, silicon, steel and aluminum and will have very low flammability.

Equipment at the site will be fitted with lightning protection and surrounded by a fenced, graveled compound

A Bushfire Management Plan has been prepared for the Project by Land and Environment Consultants (LEC), who have over 20 years of experience in bushfire assessment and management in Queensland. The assessment undertaken by LEC included an on-site survey of the Project Area, and has identified a range of design and mitigation measures that have been adopted into the Project’s design. These measures include vegetation management, fire breaks, and the storage of water on-site at key locations.

A Bushfire Management Plan will be prepared to manage on-site bushfire risk during both the construction and operational phases of the Project. All on-site personnel will be trained to manage any on-site fire risk. These plans will be prepared in close consultation with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) and the local volunteer fire brigade.

In addition to this, CQP has met with members of the QFES to discuss fire management of the Project Area during the development of the Project’s design to discuss fire risk and appropriate management measures. CQP will continue to engage with QFES and the local volunteer fire brigade as part of Project planning and overall project engagement activities.

The proposed project area was deliberately positioned to minimise any landscape and visual impacts.

CQP are committed to managing potential visual impacts associated with the Project and have commissioned LatStudios to prepare a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment for the Project. This assessment will consider how any potential visual impacts can be minimised through design, construction, and operations.

We have engaged with the neighbours who share a boundary with the Project from an early stage about visual impacts, and will continue to engage closely as the Project progresses.

Currently the construction period for the Project is expected to commence in early-2026, and is anticipated to take approximately 2.5 year to complete.

The construction of the Project will be undertaken in accordance with a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP).

The CEMP will be a project-specific document that outlines specific actions to be taken that prevent, control, and mitigate environmental and human impacts associated with the construction project such as dust, water and noise.

The CEMP will also provide for a complaints management procedure to ensure that any community concerns or complaints are investigated and addressed appropriately during the construction period.

Once operational, it is expected that the Project will have minimal ongoing amenity impacts on the local community.

CQP is committed to minimising biosecurity risk on land associated with our projects.

All vehicles currently accessing the project site are required to provide appropriate biosecurity documentation that demonstrates control measures have been implemented.

Any vehicle that has not complied with these requirements is not permitted to access the Project Area during the development phase of the Project.

Biosecurity control measures will also be implemented during both the construction and operational periods of the Project. Appropriate measures will be captured in relevant documentation (e.g. CEMP and Biosecurity Management Plans) that will be made accessible to all personnel on-site.