Hearing to begin on plans for 75-turbine wind farm

Ballarat Courier
Monday 4/2/2008 Page: 3

THE planning application for the Crowlands Wind Farm will be considered tomorrow. The Pacific Hydro proposal received Pyrenees Shire Council's full support last year, after it announced plans to build the 75-turbine wind farm. The wind farm will be built about 25kin north-east of Ararat, along the ridge-top between Crowlands and Glenlofty, and would produce enough electricity to meet the annual power needs of 80,000 households.

The application will be considered in six days of panel hearings in Beaufort. The panel will hear from a range of stakeholders including the community, the Country Fire Authority and council, before making a recommendation to the State Government. Pacific Hydro executive manager Andrew Richards said the company had received overwhelming support since consultation began in 2004.

He said community feedback had been used with specialist study results to devise the wind farm design. "The panel hearings provide transparency in the planning process by ensuring all parties can have their say about the project before recommendations are made," Mr Richards said. After the hearings, a recommendation will be made to the planning minister with results expected in April.