Nod on local wind power

Weekly Times
Wednesday 21/3/2007 Page: 27

VICTORIA'S first community-run wind farm has gained local council approval. Hepburn Shire has approved the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association's proposal to build two wind turbines on private land, at a cost of $8 million, within the shire.

What is different about this wind farm is that the initiative came from within the local community rather than a large company. HREA president Per Bernard said he was thrilled with the outcome, after two years' work. "There is real excitement in the local community. it is very empowering," Mr Bernard said. Extensive community consultation led to the formation of the HREA in 2005, which now has more than 400 members.

In partnership with renewable energy developer Future Energy, the community group put forward a detailed application after finding a site and planning the project. The two turbines are expected to provide enough power to supply up to 2500 homes when they are completed at the end of next year. HREA also won a $975,000 Victorian Government grant.

"We expect the remainder ($7 million) will be raised by investors: we will set up a co-op and issue a prospectus and shares," Mr Bernard said. "We are aiming for 50 per cent local ownership at the very minimum."

Future Energy's David Shapero said this was an example of a fantastic community effort. "This is exactly why (we established Future Energy), to get these community-owned projects off the ground," Mr Shapero said.

In contrast, some members of the local community of Smeaton, near Ballarat are upset Wind Power Pty Ltd is looking into building a 19-turbine wind farm. Leighton Evans, a farmer close to the proposed site at Stony Rises, was upset at the lack of community consultation. "It's not that we are against wind energy - we just don't want it here," Mr Evans said.

However, Wind Power Pty Ltd director Andrew Newbold said it was only "the first step in a detailed community consultation process".