Tuki wind farm timing unknown
The next stage of the Tuki wind farm will be unknown until the end of the year.
Wind Power met with Hepburn Shire Council last week, after mounting community concern about the proposal.
There has been community speculation over whether the proposal will go ahead at Tuki and how many turbines it would involve.
In June, wind farm opposition group Spa Country Landscape Guardians claimed the project had ended due to community opposition.
But Wind Power told The Courier the project’s future depended on the unknown nature of the Emissions Trading Scheme and carbon prices, and it expected more details later this year.
Originally, 19 turbines were earmarked for the proposal, but in 2007 it was revised to be up to 50 turbines.
Wind Power spokesman Ross Richards said once the company gained relevant information it could revisit the proposal and determine its direction.
If it did go ahead, Mr Richards said Wind Power would lodge an application in early 2009.
One of the community concerns discussed last week between the council and Wind Power was the Significant Landscape Overlay.
Some hill-tops in the project’s area are protected in council’s planning scheme by an SLO.
While the council is not for or against wind farms, Mayor Tim Hayes said he believed the SLO would be a factor in determining an application by Wind Power.
Wind Power has received draft legal advice stating an SLO would not prevent the project’s development.
If the wind farm is proposed to be more than 30 megawatts, it will go directly to the State Government planning panel for consideration. The council can then comment on the application but not determine it.
The council recently developed draft Wind Energy Facility Guidelines, to be considered with the community by the council in November.
6 October 2008
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