Stockyard Hill Wind Farm Pty Ltd, whose parent company is Origin Energy, has lodged three applications for a proposed wind energy facility.
The first of the planning permit applications proposes the construction of 242 turbines and associated building and works on land between Beaufort and Skipton in the Pyrenees Shire Council.
The other two related planning permit applications propose the use and development of an electrical terminal station and native vegetation removal along the proposed powerline route connecting the wind energy facility to the terminal station. These two applications apply to land within Corangamite Shire.
The Minister for Planning is responsible for making the decision on the wind energy facility application and has also agreed to Corangamite Shire Council’s request to determine the two associated applications.
The 242 proposed wind turbines would have a maximum height of 132 metres. A preliminary energy estimate undertaken by the proponent indicates that this project should produce enough electricity per year to power more than 270,138 dwellings. This figure represents approximately 21% of Melbourne homes. The proponent has entered into agreement with fifty-six landowners to host the wind energy facility.
The Minister for Planning appointed:
* a Panel to consider the three planning permit applications and the submissions received to them; and
* an Advisory Committee to consider and report on matters relevant to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in accordance with the bilateral assessment agreement between the State of Victoria and the Commonwealth.
Following review of the report and the recommendations of the panel the Minister for Planning approved three planning permits for 157 turbines in late October 2010. The original application for 242 turbines was denied due to the impact on the nearby Brolga population and the historic Mawallock homestead.
The approved wind turbines have a combined capacity to generate up to 471 megawatts of renewable energy per year.
This information comes from the Dept of Planning and Community Development website.
Check here for the announcement on the final approval of this project (Oct 29, 2010).
