Welcome for wind farm

Wimmera Mail Times
02/01/2008 Page: 13

NORTHERN Grampians and Ararat councils have thrown their support behind a second wind farm in the district. RES Australia is preparing a planning permit application for a $250-million wind fans seven kilometres north-east of Ararat. It will partly be in both municipalities. The project will include 50 turbines and produce clean green energy for about 40,000 houses.

Northern Grampians Shire Council chief executive officer Glen Davis said the council supported low-emission power generation. "With two national parks and large areas of crops, pasture, shrubs and forests, Northern Grampians is proud of its ecological contribution in burying carbon, creating carbon credits," he said. Mr Davis said the council supported the Federal Government emphasis on Australia's need to reduce greenhouse emissions.

"The proposed carbon trading regime will be a market in which both low emissions and carbon credits will be economically rewarded," he said. "And the Victorian Government seeks to use wind energy for water desalination plants." Mr Davis said the council also welcomed investments that would create new jobs and enhance employment opportunities. "The shire looks forward to receiving and reviewing the planning application from RES for a wind fame in the shire," he said.

Ararat Rural City chief executive officer Steve Chapple said the council welcomed responsible economic development investment. "Council has recently commenced discussions with RES Australia representatives seeking to investigate the establishment of a new 50-turbine wind farm in our municipality," he said. "The community will be provided ample opportunities to be consulted on the proposal. Our council and community are committed to clean renewable energy initiatives. As with all such wind fans applications of this size and scale, the Minister for Planning has final approval responsibility."