Warrnambool Standard
Wednesday 27/2/2008 Page: 7
PLANS to build a $50 million wind farm at Newfield could become a reality if Acciona Energy has its way. The Spanish company has announced it will appeal against Corangamite Shire's decision not to grant a planning permit. At its January meeting, the council voted to reject the wind farm proposal based on social and visual impacts. However, Acciona managing director Brett Thomas was confident the appeal would have a good chance at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The Newfield Wind Farm was a "best practice" development that met all federal, state and local planning requirements, he said. "This is an important renewable power project that will contribute to action against climate change and help meet Australia's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol," he said. The proposed wind farm would be eight kilometres inland from Port Campbell and have 15 1.5-megawatt turbines standing 110 metres high. Mr Thomas said the farm would annually offset 70,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - equivalent to removing about 16,000 cars from the road.
"Newfield has significant resources for clean energy generation," Mr Thomas said. "It will occupy less than one per cent of the 300-hectare site and all normal land use and farming activities will continue around the base of the operating wind farm." Mr Thomas said the farm's proposal had been developed in "close" consultation with the community. "The wind farm layout considers community feedback and the results of detailed independent environmental studies."
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