Moyne calls for layout changes to windfarm

Hamilton Spectator
Tuesday 6/2/2007 Page: 3

Gamesa, the wind farm company wanting to develop the 31-turbine Hawkesdale wind farm, will try to work out whether it can meet a request from Moyne Shire Council to alter the windfarms' layout.

It plans to talk to two neighbouring objectors to see whether a number of planned towers need to - and can be - moved elsewhere on the proposed wind farm site. If they can't, then it will argue for its original proposal before a planning panel expected to he appointed by Planning Minister, Justin Madden, and hope it agrees with a 150 metre setback.

At its January meeting, the majority of shire councillors backed the $145 million wind farm
- but they wanted a 500 metre setback from the two objectors' properties rather than the 150 metre setback originally proposed. A 500 metre setback would affect the siting of six of the 31 towers.

Gamesa's project manager, Neil Weston, told the Spectator his company would give careful thought to the request from Moyne Shire. "We will look at what that means and who we need to work with to ensure the viability of the project," he said.

There were four objectors - but Mr Weston said the six turbines in question would affect only two of them. "We will have to look at whether we can work further with the landowners to resolve some their complaints, or we can look at remodelling the layout," he said on Thursday.

"They (shire) aren't proposing there should be a 500 metre setback all round the proposed wind farm - just on the properties of two objectors. "In my point of view, that's a somewhat interesting way of doing things," Mr West said. "We have had a number of discussions with both the (objecting) neighbours at various times, and we will continue those discussions.

"If nothing has changed between now and when a planning panel sits, then that (setback) will be considered by the panel. The shire's submission will be one of a number of submissions considered by a panel." While disappointed at the move for an increased setback, Mr Weston said Gamesa was delighted it had received the overall backing of the shire.

The 31 turbines will be set on seven properties across 2280 hectares. They are primarily along the Penshurst-Warrnambool Rd four kilometres south of Hawkesdale, and along the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Rd.

The wind farm would inject about $1 million annually into the Hawkesdale and regional economy, while Moyne Shire could expect about $100,000 in rate revenue annually.