Melbourne Water's big plans for its biggest fans

Age
Monday 8/10/2007 Page: 4

Melbourne Water is looking at a plan to put wind turbines around its reservoirs and treatment plants. This could mean wind farms in protected water catchments, such as the Thomson, Upper Yarra and Sugarloaf. A tender document calls for "a high-level investigation", and names 23 potential sites on Melbourne Water land, which includes 157,000 hectares of protected catchments.

Melbourne Water spokesman Ben Pratt said the plan might help the organisation, one of the state's top 20 energy users, to reduce its carbon emissions. The water authority has an ambitious target to produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions and to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2018. "Wind-powered energy is one of the more advanced alternative energy sources available to us," Mr Pratt said.

In 2005-06, Melbourne Water reduced its greenhouse emissions by 40 per cent on its 2000-01 levels. It uses biogases, produced through sewage treatment, to provide some power at its Eastern and Western treatment plants. The investigation will consider standard wind turbines and smaller wind technology, Mr Pratt said. Some new technology, such as vertical axis wind turbines, can be mounted on buildings and are less intrusive on the landscape.

The proposal comes after Maribyrnong Council last month revealed a controversial plan to place two wind turbines near the West Gate Bridge. Each turbine would cost $3 million and generate enough electricity to power 750 homes. The council wants public financial backing. The Melbourne Water tender briefing also names sensitive environmental sites such as Werribee's Western Treatment Plant as potential wind farm locations.

The Werribee site includes internationally recognised wetlands and Australia's second biggest bird sanctuary. Sensitive sites are likely to be ruled out early on, the tender document says. Of 23 proposed sites, eight are ranked as primary options, including seven reservoirs - Sugarloaf, Thomson, Upper Yarra, Greenvale, Yan Yean, Wallaby Creek, O'Shannassy - and the Eastern Treatment Plant. Mr Pratt said feasibility would be based on sustainability criteria, including social, environmental and economic factors. This initial investigation will, in the early stages, immediately rule out any option that does not meet social or environmental criteria," he said. Melbourne Water will appoint a consultant to report on potential sites by February.