Council Gives Green Light for Wind Farm in Buloke

Sealake & Whycheproof Times Ensign
Thursday 5/7/2007 Page: 1

Buloke Shire Council unanimously agree to approve an application from Acciona Energy for a wind farm to be established in Buloke. Acciona Energy approached Council seeking planning approval to establish a $45 million wind farm consisting of 12 to 16 wind turbines, sub-station, access tracks and underground cabling connecting each turbine at Berrimal on private land, 19 kilometres south of Charlton.

The capacity of the project is about 24 megawatts and the wind farm is expected to contribute to the Victorian Government's Renewable Energy Target (VRET) through the generation of approximately 73.000 MWh of renewable electricity per year and displacement of an estimated 95.000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gasses) per year. This is enough power to provide green electricity to about 13.600 households.

Added to these benefits the project will contribute rates of over $61,000 per year to Council and Acciona Energy will also establish a Sustainable Community Fund to support local community initiatives in areas surrounding the wind farm and the towns of Charlton and Wedderburn. In the construction phase up to 40 jobs will be generated and one or two permanent jobs will be required during the operating life of the wind farm.

Community Consultation Acciona Energy has held discussions widely within the community as part of the community consultation process for the proposed Berrimal wind farm. This process involved a residential dwelling survey to identify all houses and people living within ten kilometres of the proposed wind farm site. Meetings have been held with many of these residents and the response to the proposal has been very positive.

At the June Council meeting it was resolved that the Council:

1. Approve the application for a wind energy facility (wind farm) consisting of 12 to 16 wind turbines at The Gap Road, Berrimal:
2. Approve the application for the associated removal or lopping of native vegetation along the road reserves to provide access to the proposed site: and
3. Grant permission for the issue of a planning permit subject to the 20 conditions listed.