Windfarm at the last hurdle

Albany Advertiser
Thursday 29/3/2007 Page: 5

MT Barker's windfarm is on track to start operations by the end of 2008. The Shire of Plantagenet recently approved amendments to the Town Planning Scheme to be forwarded to the WA Planning Commission for final approval of the windfarm's construction. Final approval now rests with Planning and Infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan. If it's given, SkyFarming will build a three-turbine farm on private property near the Mt Barker substation.

"This announcement means the project is still alive," SkyFarming technical director Andrew Woodroffe said. "The Council had 50 submissions from the public about the farm and they were all positive - a somewhat different experience to Denmark," he said.

The windfarm was expected to produce enough power to supply Mt Barker, he said. It was keenly supported by the community but most locals were indifferent to it because of its small size.

"It's not going to be quite visible with Mt Barker Hill probably hiding it," Mr Woodroffe said. "And there's a very important difference between Mt Barker and Albany - people won't be able to go up to the towers - they won't be a tourist attraction because they'll be on private land." He said the next step was waiting for confirmation of a grant from Rural Renewable Energy Program for medium projects, expected to cover 50 per cent of capital costs for the $5 million project.

SkyFarming will also need to finalise a connection offer with Western Power to connect into their grid.