Australia’s largest wind farm project has been given the go ahead by the South Australian government just days after Toyota announced its decision to end manufacturing in Victoria.
Victoria now faces a jobs crisis. Jobs created in the wind energy sector would have softened the blow of the declining manufacturing sector. Yet anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu has prevented new projects in the state.
South Australia’s wind energy sector has been the main beneficiary from Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws which took effect in 2011. It’s creating jobs while cutting pollution.
The $1.5 billion Ceres wind farm to be built on the Yorke Peninsula is just one of a line of projects that create jobs and deliver investment for regional areas. Installation and maintenance of turbines open up a new market for local component manufacturers.
Yes 2 Renewables estimate the Ceres wind farm will create:
- 576 construction jobs.
- 60 permanent jobs for the 30-year life of the project.
- $14 million worth of flow-on economic benefit.
- $3 million worth of drought-proof income for farmers each year.
- $960,000 for community benefit funds per annum.
These jobs could have been based in Victoria.
It’s time for Premier Napthine dump Ted Baillieu’s brown tape stalling Victoria’s wind energy sector. It’s time for the Premier to show political leadership and restore fair laws for wind farms. It’s a simple political decision that only requires the signature of Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
Your call, Premier.
TAKE ACTION:
- Sign our petition calling on Premier Napthine and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews to scrap Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws and support renewable energy.
- Volunteer with Yes 2 Renewables and help us build a pro-renewables movement. Only when Victorians are active will the politicians get serious about renewable energy. Email leigh.ewbank [at] foe.org.au for more information.
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I wonder if the penny will drop with the Victorian State government after Alcoa falls over later in the year? I’d like to think that somebody in the state government will realise we cannot keep losing jobs forever… but they seem a bit slow to learn.