Lexton Wind Farm go-ahead

Pyrenees Advocate
Friday 19/1/2007 Page: 1

Approval for a second wind farm in Pyrenees Shire Council was granted at a special meeting of council on Tuesday night. Wind Power Pty Ltd had applied to the Shire to erect 19 wind turbines at a cost of $28 million. The new wind farm will have the capacity to generate 28 megawatts of power per annum.

Earlier in the day, Wind Power executives took councillors and senior Shire staff on a tour of the proposed sites in the hills surrounding Lexton. Wind Power Managing Director, Stephen Buckle said the company was very happy with the decision. "We had some very good discussions with local landholders and I believe we have addressed most if not all concerns," he said.

Mr Buckle also indicated it may take up to two years for construction to commence. "The problem is we can't get easy access to the turbines because of a worldwide shortage." "Because of the huge demand for turbines from countries like India and China, we are sometimes waiting up to two years for delivery," Mr Buckle said.

Wind Power Pty Ltd has also agreed to contribute $5,000 per turbine every year into a special trust to fund community based projects around Lexton. The first year of operation will see $95,000 contributed to the fund which will be indexed each year of the wind farms life.

Mayor Gabriel Horvat said the vast majority of locals supported the proposal. "Pyrenees Shire Council is the perfect location for wind farms because we have all of the attributes - the hills, the wind and the power lines," Cr Horvat said. "The decision will bring some employment to the Lexton community, and that has to be a good thing," he said.

Pyrenees Shire Council will also receive a substantial amount of rates from the Lexton wind farm once it's operational. "We understand the rates will be set at $40,000 per annum. The second site off Black Bottom Road turbine per year plus an additional amount for every megawatt of electricity it creates," Cr Horvat said.

The member for Ripon Joe Helper said he was delighted with the council's decision. "The Victorian Government is very supportive of renewable energy and we're really glad that Pyrenees Shire Council is capitalising on the growth of the wind farm industry," Mr Helper said.

The Lexton Wind Farm will be the second within Pyrenees Shire Council. Last year, the State Government approved the construction of the 128 turbine Waubra Wind Farm.