The Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday, February 24, 2016

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Vol. Vol. 18 18 No. No. 27 33

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Wednesday,February January 24, 13, 2016 2016 Wednesday,

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Wimmera Machinery Field Days special lift-out Inside

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Wind farm boost BY DEAN LAWSON

L

eaders of a project involved in constructing up to 117 wind-energy turbines north of Horsham are urging the community to attend public information sessions next week.

Developer RES Australia wants people to ask questions, find out more and have their say at exhibitions in Horsham Town Hall and Sailors Home Hall on Monday, and Warracknabeal on Tuesday. RES Australia, already building a $450-million Ararat Wind Farm, has spent seven years collecting wind-related data from meteorological masts at a Murra Warra site and is now finalising details from extensive array of impact studies. It hopes to submit a planning application for the $650-million to $700-million project to Planning Minister Richard Wynne in June. Project manager Kevin Garthwaite took The Weekly Advertiser on a tour of the area where the turbines and a sub-station would feed enough energy into the power network to power 212,000 Victorian houses a year. With the trademark wind of the Kalkee plains blowing across the flat expanse of broadacre farmland, Mr Garthwaite explained that each of

IN THIS ISSUE

the turbines would measure up to 220 metres from the ground to the tip of the blades, the equivalent height of the nearby Dooen radio mast. He said each blade would measure 66 metres across an overall span of 136 metres. Each nacelle housing a generator at the top of 140-metre masts will be about the size of large shipping containers. “The increasing height and size of the turbines is becoming quite standard with the development of wind technology,” he said. “We’ve heavily assessed this area and it is ideal for a wind farm of this scale. We’ve been collecting wind data at various levels every 10 minutes and found, based on our experience, that it is highly suitable. There is a low population, the land has already been highly modified and the wind farm will only have a two percent footprint on the land it occupies.”

Consultation

Mr Garthwaite, discussing the project on Dimboola-Minyip Road which runs through a project area also divided between Horsham and Yarriambiack shires, said planning had involved in-depth discussions with landowners. “There are about 18 families involved and we’re working very closely with them. Dis-

BIG WIND: RES Australia Murra Warra Wind Farm project manager Kevin Garthwaite at the proposed home of a major renewable energy plant between Horsham and Warracknabeal. Picture: DEAN LAWSON

cussions are very positive and we often talk with them as a group, which allows for a lot of discussion,” he said. “We’re keen for everyone to find out more about what we’re doing.” The turbines, placed in formation to best capture wind and to reduce wear and tear, would feed power into a substation strategically placed under a main 220kv power-line network running between Bal-

larat and Red Cliffs, splitting the site. “It’s ideal because it’s situated right under the grid, providing direct access. This isn’t often the case,” Mr Garthwaite said. “There will also be a quarry near the sub-station for project works.” With construction of a Murra Warra wind farm taking investment in renewable power generation in the region to

beyond $1-billion, Mr Garthwaite added the flow-on effects and benefits to the community would be significant. He said apart from employment and economic opportunities, wind farms generated significant rate revenue for local government. RES Australia is also committed to providing regional support through a community fund. Monday’s public information

sessions will be in Horsham Town Hall from noon to 3pm and Sailors Home Hall, Murra Warra, from 5pm to 8pm. A Tuesday information session will be in Yarriambiack Shire Council meeting rooms at Warracknabeal from noon to 3pm. Mr Garthwaite said RES Australia planned more project information sessions in the future.

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