Warrnambool Standard
Wednesday 15/8/2007 Page: 11
A $63 MILLION wind farm will be developed in Purnim after Moyne Shire yesterday approved the project - the closest to Warrnambool. The Drysdale Wind Farm will span 800 hectares of grazing property about 17 kilometres north-east of Warrnambool. A condition of the development's approval included the installation of two water tanks on either side of the farm for firefighting, after councillors raised concerns about fire protection on the site at a hearing last month.
Wind Farm Developments said the 29.9 megawatt project would power about 17,000 homes, contribute three per cent of Victoria's Renewable Energy Target and offset more than 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - the equivalent of taking 21,000 cars off the road. Purnim resident John Howard objected to the plans, telling councillors yesterday the wind farm would significantly affect his farming operation. It would have implications for the location of two radio towers near his home (now before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) and affect any future relocation of his home.
Moyne planning approvals manager Russell Guest said there was leeway to move the radio towers toward the turbines because they currently did not stand at the minimum agreed distance. Cr Bruce Couch said he wanted greater turbine buffer zones and he had concerns about the possible impact on yellow-tailed black cockatoos. However, the farm received support after councillors were reassured that water tanks for firefighting purposes would be installed on the site.
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