The Stopping Windfarms in State Forests Bill 2025 prohibits constitutional corporations from constructing, installing or commissioning windfarms within certain State forests in New South Wales.
From the explanatory memorandum:
The Stopping Windfarms in State Forests Bill 2025 (the Bill) prohibits a constitutional corporation from constructing, installing or commissioning a windfarm in a State forest. This prohibition will apply to the Sunny Corner State Forest; the Vulcan State Forest; the Mount David State Forest; the Gurnang State Forest; and the Canobolas State Forest.
The Bill constitutes the Stopping Windfarms in State Forests Act 2025. Clause 1 provides its short title, and Clause 2 specifies commencement on the day after Royal Assent. Clause 3 is the operative provision: it makes it unlawful for any constitutional corporation to construct, install or commission a windfarm in a State forest, and it expressly lists the five forests covered by the prohibition.
State forests provide critical habitat for native flora and fauna, act as carbon sinks and offer recreational and cultural benefits to the public. Allowing industrial-scale windfarm development in these areas would require road building, clearing and infrastructure that fragments ecosystems and undermines biodiversity [Judgment].
By prohibiting windfarms in State forests, the Bill safeguards these ecosystem services and preserves the integrity of public land. Although renewable energy is vital, it can be deployed on agricultural land, brownfield sites or purpose-built wind corridors without sacrificing irreplaceable forest environments [Judgment].
Moreover, the certainty provided by a statutory ban allows forest managers, local communities and conservation groups to plan with clarity, avoiding the costly and contentious approvals processes that would otherwise be required for each project [Judgment].
Even if protecting forests is important, a blanket prohibition on windfarms in State forests may hinder Australia’s ability to meet urgent emissions reduction targets. Wind energy is one of the cheapest and fastest-deploying sources of low-carbon power; restricting suitable land may drive up costs and slow deployment [Judgment].
A more balanced approach would require rigorous environmental impact assessments and site-specific conditions rather than an across-the-board ban. This would allow high-quality forestry land with low ecological value to host renewables, maximising overall environmental benefit by displacing fossil fuels [Judgment].
Finally, by vesting complete discretion in the legislature, the Bill removes local land-use planning flexibility and may set a precedent for prohibiting other forms of renewable infrastructure on public lands without adequate evidence of harm [Judgment].
2025-11-03
House of Representatives
Before House of Representatives
GEE, Andrew, MP
Unspecified
Climate Change / Environment, Energy Policy, Infrastructure