Councillor's wind woes eased
Cooma-Monaro Shire Mayor Vin Good and General Manager John Vucic are a little more relaxed today after separate meetings with representatives of the proposed Bocco Rock and Shannons Flat wind farm’s took place in Cooma on Tuesday.
Mr Vucic said his meeting with the managing director of Sydney based CBD Energy Gerry McGowan, the group behind a proposal for a 20 turbine 50 megawatt wind farm at Shannons Flat was positive.
“My self and the director of environmental services, Peter Smith met with Gerry McGowan for a briefing session, which literally brought council up to speed,” Mr Vucic said.
“Mr McGowan confirmed that CBD was now an ASX listed company, and the regional chairman was Mark Vaile, the former deputy PM.”
Mr Vucic said the project was in very preliminary stages but that the company expected to have the turbines constructed within the estimated three-year time frame.
Mr Vucic said he had some knowledge of what it takes to set up a wind farm after experiencing the process in South Australia and Tasmania and said he was doubtful the project would be completed in three years.
“They are only up to scoping the project at the moment,” he said, “It is still in the planning stages.”
Mr Vucic said there were still a number of environmental issues that would need to be resolved.
“We raised the visual and noise issues and how they might impair residents, roads access and I understand the site is timbered,” he said.
Mr Vucic said the specifics were not discussed but a point was made that the largest shareholder of CBD, German Company Solon AG heavily involved in solar energy might be able to provide some form of solar infrastructure support for the community.
“We asked that they keep us informed as the process evolves over time,” Mr Vucic said.
“No details have been given to us at this point in time but it could involve two shires. Snowy is just around the corner,” he said.
Mr Vucic requested that the company make representation before an open council meeting at a later stage so other councillors and the community could ask questions.
“We want the community to be involved,” Mr Vucic said.
A similar meeting between the Mayor Vin Good and representatives of the proposed Bocco Rock wind farm took place on Tuesday.
The mayor met with Wind Prospect development director Edward Mounsey who is behind the Bocco Rock project and discussed plans to expand the farm from 73 turbines to either 109 or 127.
“There are currently two options. Option one is 109 turbines and option two is 127. It doesn’t matter if there are 127 or 109 the output will not exceed their 250 megawatt cap,” Cr Good said.
Cr Good said Wind Prospect had completed the Ecological Assessment with the State Government and was in the process of having their Environmental Impact Statement assessed.
“I understand they are expecting it to be finished in the near future and have it on public exhibition around September ‘09,” Cr Good said.
Cr Good said from there the company would have to respond to any public submissions.
The Bocco Rock plan is working concurrently with the upgrade of power lines to Bombala and Cr Good said both Country Energy and Wind Prospects hoped to have NSW department of Planning decisions in January or February 2010.
“There are still a lot of hurdles and like any other project there are both community members and councillors for and against wind farms,” Cr Good said.
And like all projects Cr Good said this one would be rated on its merits but that it looked likely to proceed.
The Bocco Rock wind farm has been granted State significance status while Mr Vucic said CBD energy proposed to apply for the status which can have benefits for fast tracking a plan.
Sonia Byrnes
25 June 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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