A FEDERAL government agency which funds renewable energy projects said it had not provided funding for a proposed chicken-poo incinerator at Mount Cotton.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency spokeswoman Hilary Miller made the comment about funding for Cleveland Power's electricity plant days before the project's second development application expires on September 20.
The comment coincided with Arena announcing $92million for 12 renewable energy projects including five solar farms in Queensland on Thursday.
Ms Miller said the agency was unable to reveal whether it was assessing current funding applications from Cleveland Power for its Mount Cotton project.
Cleveland Power plans to build the incinerator to generate electricity at Hillview Road, Mount Cotton, next to its Darwalla poultry farm.
But work must start on the electricity plant before the end of this month to avoid reapplying to council for a third development permit extension.
Previous development permits lapsed after financial woes and troubles procuring equipment from India.
Project chief David Bray said in a press release this week he had been working closely with Arena to obtain funding.
All funding proposals put to Arena are assessed for best fit with investment focus areas.
“We’re continuing to work closely with the agency to bring Cleveland Powers’ first project to fruition," he said.
“Arena is to be congratulated for the speed at which it is moving. They can see there are lots of great ideas in Australia for projects that will make us clean energy leaders."
The agency has funding issues of its own after legislation was put before federal parliament this month to substantially cut its funding.
However, it is backed by The Clean Energy Council which spoke out in its favour last week.
Mr Bray said the Cleveland Power Project at Mount Cotton would generate enough electricity for 40 homes and would be the second of its kind in Queensland after a Darling Downs operation started in 2014.
But former Division 6 councillor Toni Bowler remained sceptical and said the incinerator would be less than 600 metres from Mount Cotton State School and would burn 700tonnes of chicken manure every day.
"The manure will come from all over South East Queensland," Ms Bowler said.
"The toxins from such an incinerator are corrosive and will affect many properties and it is expected stockpiling more than 2000tonnes of chicken manure will smell.
"The double-b trucks delivering the chicken manure will affect our roads. This incinerator was refused by council planners, council environmental scientists, and councillors for many well-researched reasons.
"It will be interesting if it comes to council for an extension as Mayor Williams was given a donation from Darwalla, the financial backer to this development."
