June 12, 2013
Australia

Buloke Shire considers wind farm plan

Cimara Pearce | June 12, 2013 | The Weekly Times | www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

A planning permit for a wind farm in Victoria’s northwest could be granted tonight.

It would be the first wind farm planning permit approved since the Victorian Government introduced tough planning laws in 2011 that restrict turbines being built within 2km of homes without the written consent of the owner.

Australian renewable energy company Windlab Systems along with a group of neighbouring landholders have proposed to build a six-turbine wind farm spanning 5.68ha at Coonooer Bridge in the Buloke Shire.

The council will vote on whether or not to grant the planning application at a meeting tonight.

A recommendation on the council agenda gives the stamp of approval on the project saying “the notice of intention to approve planning permit 48/13 for a wind energy facility at Coonooer Bridge by Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm Pty Ltd be given to the applicant and the submitters”.

Seven submissions were received in relation to the planning permit application- one of which was in favour of the proposal.

The other six objected.

The low number of submissions stands in stark contrast to other recent wind farm applications in other shires that have received dozens of submissions and sparked large community interest.

Infigen Energy took their case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Last after the local Mitchell Shire council rejected the company’s proposal to build a $100 million 16-turbine wind farm near Seymour.

VCAT adjourned the appeal in April until studies by the National Health and Medical Research Council and Environment Protection Authority of South Australia were completed.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/12/buloke-shire-considers-wind-farm-plan/