Farm site for energy centre

Newcastle Herald
Saturday 6/1/2007 Page: 2
By Frances Thompson

A MULTIMILLION dollar energy centre that is hoped will supply the Hunter Region with power from wind, sun and water is planned for a site near Scone. An application for the first stage of the Kyoto Energy Park proposal, for up to 37 turbines on two sites, has been lodged under the NSW Government's Part 3A, state significant planning provisions by Pamada Pty Ltd.

Upper Hunter Shire Council has amended its environmental planning laws to allow such developments and pamada says the area has long been considered ideal for renewable energy production.

As well as detailing the plan, Pamada challenges the coalmining and coalfired power generation industries to justify their continued "degradation" of the Hunter's environment. The park is an opportunity to support renewable energy rather than accept landscape degradation from mining activities, the documents state.

"This is a local initiative borne out of a desire to keep Scone green and clean... that the community values its healthy landscape, coupled with a strong desire not to have coal mining in its area," the documents state.

If approved, the park's first stage will consist of wind turbines on ridge tops with a likely generating capacity of up to 110 megawatts. The company's consultants have estimated a project capital investment of more than $200 million for the wind generation phase. Future stages include a solar thermal plant, a hydro-electric generator and a visitor and education centre.

The land is owned by farmer and tourism operator Allan Henderson, of Middlebrook Station, who has been negotiating on the project for several years.

The Herald tried unsuccessfully to contact Pamada representative Mark Sydney.

Hunter Environment Lobby spokeswoman and Greens candidate for Maitland Jan Davis welcomed the move.

According to the documents, Pamada is the proponent for the project and the Kyoto Energy Park Company Pty Ltd will act as the park developer.