Newfield wind farm application delay

Cobden Times
Wednesday 11/10/2006, Page: 2

Two months have passed since the Newfield wind farm project open day in Port Campbell and a planning application is yet to be lodged with Corangamite Shire Council.

Acciona Energy, the company behind the $45 million proposal, was expected to hand in a planning application to council this month. However project manager Julien Gaschignard said he was unsure when an application would be lodged.

"It will probably be before the end of the year," he said. "The main reason is the State election." Mr Gaschignard said the company had lodged information from the public open day in August to planning minister Rob Hulls.

Mr Gaschignard said the minister was expected to make a decision on whether the project needed an 'environment effects statement' which would require the company to provide more detail on the proposed project.

"This creates a bit of a delay but it's part of the planning process we have to follow," he said. Mr Gaschignard confirmed another Community Reference Group meeting was held yesterday for members to add comments and address issues about the project.