Category: Bendigo

Bendigo, community owned wind farms, Planning approval process, Regional Development, renewable energy, Victorian Wind Alliance, wind farms2 Comments

Finally! First new wind farm approved under Baillieu’s anti-wind laws

odilegotts

First published on VicWind by Andrew Bray 14/06/2013

Coonooer Bridge
Coonooer Bridge

The Victorian Wind Alliance has today welcomed the approval of a new wind farm project near Bendigo – the first since the Baillieu anti-wind laws were passed.

The Coonooer Bridge wind farm – a small five-turbine project – was approved by the Buloke Shire Council overnight, the first to be approved since former premier Ted Ballieu’s restrictive laws were introduced in 2011. Continue reading “Finally! First new wind farm approved under Baillieu’s anti-wind laws”

Bendigo, community support for windfarms, Victorian CoalitionLeave a comment

Where did the No Go zones come from?

Cam Walker

A group of activists from the Students of Sustainability conference (currently being held in Bendigo) occupied the Premier’s office in Bendigo this week in protest at the state government’s wind energy and CSG and coal policies. Story from the Bendigo Advertiser here. And a summary of the very arbitary nature of the No Go zones here. Upper House MP Donna Petrovich has still not responded to requests to identify how or who she consulted before backing the creation of a No Go zone that stretches from the Macedon Ranges almost all the way to Bendigo. Continue reading Where did the No Go zones come from?

Bendigo, Castlemaine community wind farm, coal vs renewables, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, small scale wind, victoria, Victorian Coalition25 Comments

Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from?

Cam Walker

The following is a letter from last weeks Macedon Ranges Weekly. Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from? Last year, the state government created a series of ‘No Go’ zones, which block wind energy developments across much of Victoria, including the Macedon – McHarg Ranges. The government seems to think these ranges extend almost as far north as Bendigo. Member for Northern Victoria Donna Petrovich has said in state parliament that the No Go zones were “carefully” selected where communities “on the whole have told us that they are not appreciative of wind farms”. Given the controversial nature of … Continue reading Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from?

Bendigo, Castlemaine community wind farm, community support for windfarms, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones4 Comments

Vic govt knocks back councils’ plea for wind farm reprieve

Ben Courtice

The following news story is  from the Weekly Times. You can read the full article and add your comments at their website. Full marks for these two councils standing up for their communities. We’ll be taking it easy over Easter and the week following but should be back in operation after that. All the best to our readers! Wind farm plea rejected Johanna Leggatt |  April 5, 2012 THE Victorian Government has rejected a plea by two councils to grant them a reprieve from tough new wind farm bans. The City of Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander Shire Council have received … Continue reading Vic govt knocks back councils’ plea for wind farm reprieve

Bass Coast, Bendigo, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Pacific Hydro, renewable energy, victoria, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones4 Comments

Councils challenge wind ban

Cam Walker

The following comes from the Weekly Times. Johanna Leggatt,  February 29, 2012 VICTORIAN local councils are taking their fight against wind farm bans to the State Government. The City of Greater Bendigo has written to the Government seeking a revision of the planning laws, which restrict new wind farms in parts of the state. Mount Alexander Shire Council requested an exemption from the laws last year, while the Woodend Integrated Sustainable Energy group has indicated it will also push for Macedon Ranges Shire Council to seek a reprieve from regulations. In August last year, the Victorian Government gave households the … Continue reading Councils challenge wind ban

Bendigo, community support for windfarms, renewable energy, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farmsLeave a comment

Bendigo backs wind farms

Cam Walker

This article is from the Bendigo Advertiser, journalist: Rosa Ellen The City of Greater Bendigo council will write to Premier Ted Baillieu to seek a reversal of the government’s controversial wind farm policy. Councillor Keith Reynard raised the motion to write to the premier “to express disappointment” over the planning amendment announced in August this year, which restricts wind turbines from being built within five kilometres of Bendigo. The amendment also created a blanket ban on wind farms within land bounded by the McIvor Highway and the Calder Freeway and Highway. Cr Reynard said the legislation “severely restricts the options … Continue reading Bendigo backs wind farms

Bendigo, Castlemaine community wind farm, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Hepburn community wind farm, Macedon Ranges, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farmsLeave a comment

Wind farms supported by Bendigo conference

Cam Walker

This comes from the Bendigo Advertiser, journalist is Risa Ellen, 22 Nov, 2011. MORE voices are to join the protest against wind farm bans after a conference on community-owned energy projects voted to write to the state government over the issue. About 130 delegates from across Australia attended the two-day Community Power conference in Bendigo last week, to discuss community-run renewable energy projects. City of Greater Bendigo councillor Keith Reynard said the participants voted unanimously to support the motion for conference conveners to write to the Victorian government over the wind farm policy Amendment VC82, which bans wind farms from … Continue reading Wind farms supported by Bendigo conference

Ballarat, Bendigo, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Hepburn community wind farm, Newstead, victoria, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farms4 Comments

Victorian community gets on with supporting renewable energy

Cam Walker

Here in Victoria, the roll out of renewable energy is facing an uphill battle because of the regressive attitudes of the Baillieu government. New wind farm rules will rule out all current community owned wind farms that are under development – at least in their current form, because of the creation of No Go zones. These laws have cost Victoria more than $900 million in lost and stalled investment and hundreds of potential jobs in the short period of time since they were enacted. Now, the Baillieu government has quietly cut access for most households to an incentive to install … Continue reading Victorian community gets on with supporting renewable energy

Ballarat, baseload power, Bendigo, energy transition, geothermal energy, Latrobe Valley, Portland, renewable energy, renewables & employment, victoria, Warrnambool, Western Victoria, wind farms1 Comment

Setting price will create ‘34,000 jobs’

Cam Walker

From The Age, Adam Morton. Some key quotes: The new jobs would be concentrated in the state’s Western District, central highlands and the Mallee. More than 1500 jobs created in wind and geothermal energy in the south-west around Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton. ■ Nearly 1200 new jobs relating to building and running large-scale solar plants in the Mallee. ■ About 600 new jobs in wind in the central highlands around Ballarat and Bendigo. Setting price will create ‘34,000 jobs’ February 28, 2011 A CARBON price aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 could help create … Continue reading Setting price will create ‘34,000 jobs’

ALP, Bendigo, climate change, renewable energy, renewables & employment, Solar PV, solar thermalLeave a comment

solar announcement for Bendigo

Cam Walker

23/11/10 The following is a press release from the ALP about today’s announcement about land for a solar power station. “A future Brumby Labor Government will make available land north of Bendigo for the development of a solar power station. In Bendigo today with Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan, Premier John Brumby announced a future Labor Government would set aside a 75 hectare state-owned site near Bridgewater in a bid to attract a major job-creating solar energy investment in the region. Mr Brumby said central Victoria was in a prime position to capitalise on new opportunities in a climate … Continue reading solar announcement for Bendigo