Frequently Asked Questions

Australian Solar Enterprises was founded in 2021 who are supported by a highly qualified and experienced group of consulting partners with a combined 75+ years in development approvals and the renewables industry. 

The team is focused on ensuring that the Tumuruu development is world class and will provide value to our stakeholders. 

The 673-hectare site is situated at the northernmost point of Bowman Road, Taromeo, just north of the town of Blackbutt in the South Burnett region of Queensland. 

Cultural heritage investigations are underway. We acknowledge the cultural heritage duty of care, and we are committed to meeting this. We are establishing a process for this to best occur. 

The solar farm will use approximately 60% of the site, concentrated on the eastern side   where the topography is suitable.

The design intention is to reduce visual impacts to surrounding residents. A lightweight and compact substructure which means an ultra-low profile (approx. one metre at the highest point).

Vegetated buffers will be planted to maintain a pleasant outlook for neighbouring residents.

Operational noise will be inaudible to surrounding residents when the solar farm is up and running. Maintenance can be carried out with hand drills, meaning that no heavy machinery is required.

Investigations are being undertaken to ensure that access to the site is safe and sufficient to accommodate the expected vehicles.

The lightweight design reduces logistics and installation by up to 40% compared to conventional solar farms. 

The name Tumuruu means Iron and resembles strength. It is in honour of the landowner’s father who passed away in 2021. Tumuruu was a respected Engineer who sought smart and sustainable performance in his role in the mining industry. 

That embodies what the Tumuruu project will strive to achieve; to build and operate a high-quality project with sustainable solutions that will be seen as a new benchmark in the large-scale solar industry in Australia.

Tumuruu pronunciation: two-mor-roo 

ASE intends to include a dense 15m vegetation buffer of native species to the boundary of the property where required to address visual impacts. In addition the ground mount system selected is approx. 1m high which helps to reduce the impact on surrounding neighbours. 

Whilst the vegetation buffer can be 15m wide this is not where the panels will start. In all cases there will be space between the buffer and the panels, this allows for a service track and to remove shading. Efforts will be made to keep panels away from boundary as much as the topography of the site will allow. As noted above the panels are low at less than 1 metre and the buffer will help ease any visual impact from the boundary.

Since 2017 the site has been extensively cleared of trees, particularly within the project envelope. There has been some invasive species regrowth that will be removed during construction. Since the 1960s the property has been completely cleared four times to allow agricultural activities.

There has been some regrowth of lantana however the site remains predominately open. Works will be undertaken to ensure that the site is cleared of all regrowth and select earthworks.

With the solar ground mounting technology selected the site can remain predominately grassed and ground covers will be selected that will improve the soil conditions during operating years. In the construction period there will e the need for some earthworks and the grass will need to be shortened to allow effective installation.

The project, as currently planned, will be approximately 400MW connected to the Powerlink network supplying power to Queensland. The project will cover around 400HA of the 700HA site at 341 Bowman Rd.

Whilst the project is operating the land can not be used for grazing under the panels. Efforts have been made to find a solution that requires no cement footing and limited in ground cabling that will ensure the land can be returned to agricultural purposes in the future. Agricultural studies undertaken has identified the land as Class C and past farming cropping endeavours have been abandoned.

The remainder of the site - about 40% we will retained as rural and likely will be used for cattle.