Allendale windfarm proposed
The South East region’s reputation as a leading provider of clean, green energy is likely to receive a further boost with the announcement of a potential windfarm near Allendale.
The proposed windfarm’s developer, Acciona Energy, provided a briefing to a Grant District Council last week.
It is proposed about 50 wind turbines would be built, potentially producing enough energy to power around 43,000 houses.
Acciona Energy, an international company, owns and operates windfarms across the globe, including a 50pc share in the Cathedral Rocks windfarm at Port Lincoln.
The company this year began construction of the Waubra windfarm near Ballarat in Victoria, which is one of the largest windfarms in the company’s worldwide operations.
Acciona Energy Asia Pacific managing director Brett Thomas said the company was in the early planning stages at Allendale.
“We’ve been looking at the opportunity, talking to the locals and undertaking wind measurements in the area,” Mr Thomas said.
He said the next step was to undertake community consultation and environmental and engineering assessments at the site ahead of further planning.
Mr Thomas said the information gathering would “take quite some time”, and it was likely a development application would be lodged with council by early to mid 2009.
“We’re still working on the timeframe,” he said.
Once approved, Mr Thomas said the windfarm would employ about 100 people during the construction phase, and would utilise local suppliers for infrastructure such as concrete.
Once built the windfarm was likely to create around 10 ongoing, full-time positions.
Grant District Council chief executive Russell Peate said council had given its in-principle support to the project.
“Council had a briefing at its last council meeting about this major windfarm proposal and is awaiting the lodgement of a development application early in 2009,” Mr Peate said.
“Council has supported in principle windfarm energy developments in the past, as enhancing the reputation of the South East for green energy and looks forward to receiving the development application.”
Mr Peate said once the application was lodged it would be assessed by council’s development assessment panel.
SARAH DUFFIELD
29 August 2008
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