Strong community support for wind farm proposal

Hepburn Shire Advocate
Wednesday 20/12/2006 Page: 6
By Erin Williams

A PLANNING application for a community-owned wind farm has received overwhelming support with 150 submissions. Lodged at the Hepburn Shire Council on November 15, the proposed wind farm to be built on private land at Leonards Hill received the submissions early this week.

Hepburn Renewable Energy Association president Per Bernard said the number of submissions showed the continuing support from the council. The council's director of infrastructure and development Rod Conway said the planning department had received "a few objections" to the proposal from the community.

Worth $8 million, the proposed community-owned wind farm would compromise two wind turbines. The HREA was awarded a $975,000 State Government grant in August for the project.

With 400 members, the HREA has formed a steering committee that will be responsible for setting the rules for the co-op. Mr Bernard said the committee would determine the cost of shares and be responsible for setting up a community fund.

"A certain amount of money will go into community funding," he said. "It may help with other programs and will be a substantial amount of money." Mr Bernard said the community owned wind farm was more than an idea. "These people and local community are going something for themselves." he said.