Wind Power: No appeal despite initial objections

Hamilton Spectator
Saturday 7/7/2007 Page: 1

A WIND farm developer of 30 turbines at Woodhouse and Woorndoo has breathed a sigh of relief that objectors didn't take their fight to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). "It's a relief rather than a surprise not to go to VCAT - I don't think anyone who lodges a planning permit wants to go to VCAT," NewEn project manager, Grant Flynn, said on Tuesday.

The $50 million Woodhouse wind farm especially evoked strong passions with 10 families in the area opposing it when it was presented to Southern Grampians and Moyne Shire for a decision on a planning permit. Both councils agreed to approve a permit - but included 48 conditions. They have now issued planning permits for the Woodhouse development after the time allowed for a VCAT appeal expired. Southern Grampians and Moyne shires were both involved because Morton's Lane is the shire boundary.

Southern Grampians Shire's physical services director, Jim Nolan, said it had been a surprise there hadn't been an appeal, given the number of people previously opposed. However, he believed one mitigating factor against a VCAT appeal had been the extremely detailed report by consultant Chris Harty, which might have lessened some of the concern held by objectors. Mr Harty concluded the Woodhouse wind farm provided a net benefit. He said it helped address the threat of fundamental environmental changes to habitat and long-term species survival associated with climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.

However, Mr Harty conceded there were problems with equity and fairness with large wind projects - the economic benefits went to some landowners but not others. It's likely to be close to two years before the first towers are erected on Yamba or North Gums properties in the Morton's Lane, Woodhouse. The wind farm will cover 1100 ha over both farms. The towers will be 103 metres tall and the blades 45 metres long. Mr Flynn said it would take until spring next year to comply with all the permit conditions.

"We will actually install the turbines in autumn (2009). Lifting such large things into the air when they are designed to catch the wind is not something crane drivers get excited by. They like it to be calm weather for the installation - and autumn is when the calm weather is." New En Australia is building another $50 million wind farm on the Woorndoo-Hexham Rd, 1.5 kms south of Woorndoo. Although there were three objections initially to Moyne Shire granting a planning permit, again there was no appeal to VCAT and a permit has been issued.

Mr Flynn said work would now concentrate on getting the finance arranged for the two projects, finding a customer for the energy and carrying out a detailed design. "While they (council) have issued a planning permit, there are 48 conditions that go with it. They are fairly substantial conditions that require further review by council - it requires the endorsement by council before we can start the development.

"There's a fair bit of work in preparing an environmental management plan." Mr Flynn said there was still no final decision whether there would be 13 or 15 turbines at either the Woodhouse and Woorndoo sites - but both would generate less than 30 MW. "We have 15 dots on the map at the moment but if we end up building the larger-capacity machines, then two will disappear." The two wind farms are the first for the north German company in Australia.