Greenleaf Renewables says it is committed to working with the State Government on the next steps in the process to deliver its Moonlight Range project after Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie this week issued a call-in notice.

A ministerial call-in means Mr Bleijie will be the sole decision-maker as to whether the $1 billion project, 40km west of Rockhampton, will go ahead.

More than 550 submissions have been received since the call-in process was initiated last month and the State Government said 85 per cent supported the minister exercising his powers to call the project in.

Subject to approval, the project will have 88 turbines and be capable of generating up to 450MW of renewable energy, enough to power more than 260 homes.

‘Greenleaf is committed to working with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning on the next steps in the process to deliver this project for the benefit of the local community and wider Queensland,’ the company said in a statement this week.

‘We remain confident in the quality and compliance of our Development Application submission.

‘We have worked closely with the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) to navigate a rigorous and collaborative planning process, involving detailed ecological, heritage, noise, visual impact, stormwater, and erosion studies, as well as transport route and impact assessments.

‘Importantly, we have consulted thoughtfully with the local community, listening and modifying the project as a result, and will continue to do so.’

A Community Benefit Fund has already been established to support local initiatives and community development. The fund will consist of more than $3.5 million over the life of the project – at least $100,000 per year during operations.

Greenleaf expects about 300 jobs to be created in the construction phase and, once operational, the facility will support up to 10 permanent full-time staff.