A decision on one of Queensland's biggest wind farm developments bordering World Heritage-listed rainforest in Far North Queensland has again been delayed.
Ark Energy wants to build the Wooroora Station Wind Farm, formally known as the Chalumbin Wind Farm, on a pastoral property near Ravenshoe, west of Cairns.
The subsidiary of Korea Zinc had hoped to construct a $1 billion, 200-turbine development, but the project was scaled back to 42 turbines to appease opponents.
It is one of several wind farms to spring up in the region with the Kaban Green Power Hub and Mount Emerald Wind Farm operating nearby.
The Wooroora Station Wind Farm is before federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for final approval, who was expected to make a decision last year.
But a Department of Environment spokeswoman said the deadline had now been extended until mid-April.
"All relevant considerations, including public submissions and international obligations, will be considered when deciding on whether or not to approve the project," she said.
Proposed site borders national park
Conservation groups have expressed concern about the location of the development, which borders a national park that is home to several endangered and threatened species including the magnificent brood frog, northern greater glider, and masked owl.
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre director Lucy Graham said she was pleased the wind farm was "getting serious government scrutiny".
"However, this decision has already been delayed twice and the community and industry need to have certainty," she said.
"We don't want to continue to see projects that have a large environmental impact being waved through, as we've seen time and again with coal and gas projects.
"The continued delays on this project are not good for the community, developers, or our environment."
Queensland Conservation Council energy strategist Clare Silcock said renewable energy developers had "lessons to learn" from the proposed wind farm.
"We hope that other developers take stock from what's gone wrong at Chalumbin and are prioritising sites that have comparably lower environmental impact," Ms Silcock said.
"Addressing climate change looks like urgently transitioning away from coal and gas to renewable energy and making sure development is in the right places, protecting our forests, wetlands and waterways that play a key role in soaking up carbon."
The ABC has contacted Ark Energy for comment.
Information on the company's website states the new design includes a minimum buffer of one kilometre to neighbouring World Heritage areas, and avoids wet sclerophyll forest.