Monday 18 December 2006

Plans for turbines on show

Warrnambool Standard
Monday 18/12/2006 Page: 11

PLANS for a 31-turbine wind farm at Hawkesdale have gone on display for community comment.

The company proposing the project, Gamesa Australia, has announced the planning permit application has been accepted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment as complete and suitable for public exhibition.

Some turbines will be within 3km of homes of the township of Hawkesdale and visible from the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road, Camerons Road and Warrnambool Road. The documents will be displayed for seven weeks and people have until February 3 to make a submission to the planning minister.

A planning panel is still to be appointed to consider objections and comments from the public, DSE and other stakeholders from a hearing expected next year. The panel will prepare a report for Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden to determine the project's fate.

The company is also proposing a wind farm development near Port Fairy at Ryans Corner and is waiting for the minister to approve the Environment Effects Statement it submitted in November.

The company is hopeful the Ryans Corner plans will be exhibited early next year.

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