May 10, 2007
Australia
Australia
A wind farm will be built at Morton’s Lane, north-east of Penshurst, after the Southern Grampians Council voted to support the project.
Moyne council approved the development earlier this week.
The wind farm will straddle the border between the two municipalities.
Southern Grampians’ deputy Mayor Marcus Rentsch says supporting the wind farm was an easy decision.
“We discussed that issue last night and it was a unanimous decision by the council to support the planning application,” he said.
Meanwhile, Corangamite council has received a planning application for a wind farm at Newfield near the Great Ocean Road.
The plan by Acciona Energy is to develop 15 turbines at the site.
Acciona project manager Julien Gaschignard says the number of turbines has been reduced since community consultation began several months ago.
“We were looking at a much bigger project at the start, around 45 turbines, but we’ve done all the noise studies and, yes, it was just a first draft,” he said.
“When you look at the area, you can think maybe I can stick [in] all these turbines, but then after the maximum number we realised we can have is 15 turbines and that is what we are proposing today.”
Corangamite council will have the final say on whether the wind farm will be approved.
Mayor Ruth Gestrein says opponents of the wind farm are worried turbines will be visible from the Great Ocean Road.
“There is apparently about a 12 second opportunity as you are driving along the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell where you will be able to see the turbines. They are about eight kilometres inland, but that is something we need to consider as a council,” she said.
10 May 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/05/10/council-green-lights-mortons-lane-wind-farm/