Article by Editorial, courtesy of The Australian
01.12.2025
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s newly opened wind farm in central Queensland is the latest project to confirm it has asbestos in its turbines.
The $1bn Clarke Creek Wind Farm, located between Rockhampton and Mackay, is at least the third wind farm project in Australia to have discovered the hazardous material in brake pads on lifts used to access the top of the 207m tall turbines.
Chinese-backed wind farm developer and turbine manufacturer Goldwind, which supplied Clarke Creek, last month alerted authorities to the presence of white asbestos in the brake pads after they were discovered at the Cattle Hill wind farm in Tasmania.
Goldwind Australia has issued a statement saying the asbestos pads were produced by Chinese manufacturer 3S Industry, a major supplier into Australia. In its statement, Goldwind said the occupational risk to workers at the facility was “very low”.
It is not clear how many Australian wind farms have the component, with several renewable energy companies not responding to enquiries about their turbines over the past few weeks.
Squadron Energy, a subsidiary of Tattarang, a private investment group of Dr Forrest and his former wife Nicola, owns the 450MW Clarke Creek Wind Farm.
After being contacted by The Australian, the company confirmed the asbestos brake pads had been installed in lifts at the 100-turbine facility. It is understood the pads are being removed.
In a statement, Squadron Energy said there was no risk to workers or the community and asbestos had not been airborne.
“Goldwind is remediating asbestos detected in a number of brake pads in the internal service lifts in turbines at Clarke Creek Wind Farm,’’ the statement said.
“This is an industry-wide issue stemming from a component that would fit in the palm of your hand.
“There has been no detection of airborne asbestos and work is under way to resolve the issue.
“There is no risk to the community and the health and safety of staff and community members remains our No.1 priority.”
The wind farm, which opened stage one in late October, is still in the process of being commissioned but has already been producing power and can supply electricity for up 330,000 homes.
At least 50 workers are understood to have been involved in the installation of the lifts at Clarke Creek. A second stage, with 88 more turbines, is being planned.
It is understood that Queensland authorities have, so far, identified Clarke Creek as the only wind farm in the state with the asbestos brake pads.
On Friday, the federal opposition demanded a temporary halt on the installation of new wind turbines until a national audit is done to determine the scale of asbestos contamination.
The importation of asbestos-containing goods into Australia has been banned since 2003. Last month, a second major supplier to Australia, Denmark-based Vestas, confirmed it had also quarantined a number of turbines.
It was reported that a sample had tested positive at TagEnergy’s $4bn Golden Plains wind farm, Australia’s biggest wind operation, at Rokewood, northwest of Geelong, which uses Vestas-branded turbines.
Vestas, which is delivering the procurement and construction for Golden Plains, is working with authorities and has implemented strict health and safety measures while more samples are collected for testing.
“Vestas has taken immediate action to ensure that the limited number of turbines that may have a risk of exposure to asbestos are quarantined, and hoists potentially replaced while further investigations are carried out,’’ a spokesman said.
Goldwind said it was working with state and federal authorities.
“Independent occupational hygienists have assessed the occupational health risk to be very low,’’ it said.
“Goldwind has shared this information with other companies in the industry, as 3S Industry supplies to a range of industrial customers.
“All relevant authorities have been notified.”