Wind farm in pipeline

Weekly Times
Wednesday 4/6/2008 Page: 30

PLANS are afoot to build one of the world's biggest wind farms in Victoria's central highlands. If approved. Wind Power Pty Ltd's proposed Stockyard Hill Wind Farm, 45km west of Ballarat, could have up to 370 turbines and produce enough power for 20 per cent of Melbourne's homes. Wind Power engineer and community consultant Ross Richards said the company was waiting for the results of a study into the project's potential impact on local Brolga populations.

A spokesman for Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the Victorian Government supported the project. "Victoria is well placed to help the Federal Government reach its renewable energy target and this project could feed into that mix." the spokesman said. Mr Richards said the project had gained good community support with more than 60 landowners signing on. The project would be the biggest in Australia and "would be good for everyone", he said.

He said the wind farm could produce up to 550-600 megawatts a year, equivalent to 20 per cent of Melbourne's domestic needs. However. Landscape Guardians national and Victorian president Randall Bell said the project had divided the community and opposition to it was solid. Mr Bell said windfarms were unreliable, uneconomic and inefficient and.. you should not sacrifice precious land for something so futile and useless''.

"It needs to be constantly backed up," he said. ''And this backup comes from massive greenhouse emitters.'' If the project gets through the feasibility stage it will be referred to the Planning Minister, who will determine whether the project requires an environmental effects statement.