December 23, 2015
Australia

Moorabool Shire Council approves extended consultation period over Lal Lal wind farm

By Michael Pollock | The Courier | Dec. 23, 2015 | www.thecourier.com.au

Moorabool Shire Council has voted to propose an extension for the community consultation period for the Lal Lal wind farm project at a recent council meeting.

Council has written a letter to Minister of Planning Richard Wynne requesting an extension to the public exhibition period until February for the proposed amendment, fearing residents hadn’t been given enough time to process information.

The amendment would see WestWind Energy increase turbine height from 130 metres to 161 metres, with the number of turbines reduced to 60 from 64.

The item seeks clarification on whether Mr Wynne considers the amendment minor or major in nature and whether a new application should be submitted.

The item stated that the proposed height of each turbine “will cause an unacceptable amenity impact on the community”.

Westwind managing director Tobi Geiger told The Courier in November that the turbines would have “minimal” visual impact.

“I can tell you honestly, if you were two kilometres away and you saw a 161 metre high turbine and then you drove further and saw a 130 metre turbine from two kilometres away you wouldn’t notice any different,” he said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/12/23/moorabool-shire-council-approves-extended-consultation-period-over-lal-lal-wind-farm/