Major setback to West

The Examiner, Page: 10
Saturday, 13 May 2006

The West Coast community will miss out on millions of dollars worth of social and economic benefits now that the Heemskirk wind farm has been put on the backburner, according to West Coast Mayor Darryl Gerrity. Cr Gerrity said $30 million to $50 million was expected to be pumped into the regional economy, including about 120 jobs in construction. "It was going to give economic and social stability to the West Coast - it needs a bit of a boost," Cr Gerrity said yesterday. Renewable energy company Roaring 40s announced its decision to abandon the $300 million Heemskirk wind farm and a South Australian wind farm on Thursday.

The company blames the Federal Government's decision not to increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target from 2 per cent of total energy consumption. Company manager Mark Kelleher also cast doubt over the Musselroe wind development in the North-East and said this was the beginning of an industry cool-down. Cr Gerrity said most wind farms were in isolated regional areas where the community was struggling. Mr Kelleher said he was disappointed that the company had to pull out both in terms of the money it had invested and the community concerns.

"As well as being disappointing that Tasmania, with such wind resources, can't harness that, it's just disappointing that the jobs won't be there," he said. Australian Wind Energy Association chief executive Dominique La Fontaine said Roaring 40s' decision was unfortunately indicative of the challenges faced by the entire industry.