Hamilton Spectator
Saturday 28/7/2007 Page: 5
FINANCIAL investigations into the largest wind farm announced so far in Australia - the 183 turbines planned to be built between Macarthur and Hawkesdale - are still proceeding. When the State Government gave planning approval to the project last October, the then developer, Pacific Hydro, said it would take up to 12 months to investigate the financing of the $600 million wind farm.
AGL Energy's public affairs adviser, Andrew Scammell, confirmed on Wednesday that investigations into how to finance the massive scheme were still continuing. "It's still within that 12 months timeframe." Mr Scammell added. Pacific Hydro claimed there would be 600 to 900 jobs created in construction and manufacturing over its two-year construction period.
The turbines will create a total capacity of 329 megawatts and be spread across 55 square kilometres of predominantly cleared farmland mid-way between Macarthur and Hawkesdale. The $600 million project will generate will generate enough electricity to power almost 190,000 homes a year - three times the number of houses in Geelong. A three-member panel sat for five weeks in Hamilton in February and March last year to hear submissions for and against the wind farm. It received 1295 submissions with 1148 (88 per cent) in support. Moyne Shire is expected to gain about $400,000 in rates annually from the project.
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