Waubra wind farm gets go ahead

Two villages, Waubra in Western Victoria and Taralga on the Southern Tablelands of NSW, will likely have 128 and 62 wind turbines respectively built in their districts.

As reported in these pages in February, the $326 million Waubra project, the second biggest in the state after Portland, will generate 200MW in peak winds for Wind Energy, enough for 90,000 houses. The state government gave it the go ahead on June 15 while the NSW government is yet to make a decision about the Taralga turbines.

Victorian Planning Minister Rob Hulls said an independent panel had found Waubra to be an appropriate location for the farm, despite 23 objections. It would generate about 150 jobs during construction and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Victorian government has now approved seven wind farms: Toora in Gippsland, Codrington and Challicum Hills already in operation in the Western District and Wonthaggi and Portland under construction respectively in Gippsland and the WD.

Victoria has now issued planning permits for more than 60% of its target of 1000MW of wind energy by 2006.

The Taralga farm, 3km from the village, is being proposed by joint venturers Renewable Energy Systems Australia and Southern Cross Windpower.

At Waubra, about 30km north west of Ballarat, landowners each will be paid about $7000 a year to have each turbine on their land; at Taralga, the payment to eight farmers is proposed to be about $5000 a 110m high turbine for 30 years.

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Waubra wind farm gets go ahead

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