Wind farm call

Warrnambool Standard
Tuesday 26/12/2006 Page: 12
By Sarah Scopelianos

OPINIONS about the proposed Hawkesdale wind farm are being sought by Moyne Shire to prepare a report about the council's position on the project. Gamesa Australia unveiled plans for the Hawkesdale farm a week ago for public comment.

Early this year the company slashed the size of the farm by almost half to 31 turbines across seven properties, about four kilometres south of Hawkesdale near the junction of the Woolsthorpe and Penshurst-Warrnambool roads.

Moyne Shire's planning director Greg Anders said because the project was to generate between 70 and 100 megawatts of electricity - well above the 30 megawatt limit council could approve - the state Planning Minister Justin Madden had the final say.

Mr Anders said the shire was seeking submissions from the public about the project by January 8 for officers to consider before making a recommendation about the council's position on the project.