Minimising Soil Risk in Wind Farm Design
Service: Soil Investigation to Determine the Effect of Wind Farm Development on Land Suitability
Location: Queensland
Date: 2024 & 2025
If not properly planned, construction of access roads and transmission corridors may introduce risks to land condition, erosion rates and future land use.
Our Scope
As wind energy projects increasingly seek locations that reduce public resistance to visual and noise impacts, forested areas have emerged as preferred sites for development. However, constructing access roads and transmission corridors through these landscapes introduces potential risks to land condition, erosion rates, and future land use, particularly for forestry and agriculture.
Verterra was engaged to assess and quantify these risks to support responsible development and regulatory approvals.
Challenges
Land Suitability: New infrastructure for wind farms—such as roads and transmission lines—can alter surface hydrology, cause compaction, and reduce soil functionality. This may lead to decreased land suitability for agriculture or forestry
Erosion Risk: Disturbed soils and modified slopes may increase erosion, especially in sensitive forest environments, which must be addressed to avoid negative environmental impacts.
Regulatory Hurdles: Approval processes require robust, science-backed evidence demonstrating that land degradation risks are minimal or manageable.
Verterra’s Solution
Verterra conducted a two-tiered assessment process:
Desktop Analysis: Identified baseline land suitability, terrain profiles, and erosion vulnerability using spatial datasets and land capability models.
Site Investigations: Validated desktop findings with on-ground fieldwork, including soil assessment, aggregate stability testing, slope mapping, and vegetation analysis.
These investigations enabled Verterra to model the likely impact of access and transmission corridors on future land use and erosion susceptibility. The results were integrated into evidence-based reports tailored for regulatory review.
Project Highlights
Comprehensive baseline land capability assessment
Integrated erosion risk modelling aligned with infrastructure layouts
Practical mitigation recommendations for development planning
Targeted advice for maxmising soil productivity
Outcomes
Regulatory confidence: The project developer was able to demonstrate that infrastructure works would have minimal or manageable impact on surrounding landscapes.
Informed development design: Corridor alignments were adjusted based on risk insights to reduce erosion and maximise land suitability retention.
Sustainable co-existence: Forestry and agricultural land uses can continue alongside renewable energy infrastructure, supporting both climate and land stewardship goals.
Want to find out more about our work in the energy sector? Contact our team.