June 11, 2020
Australia

Circular Head wind farm plan amended with fewer turbines

Sean Ford | The Advocate | June 11 2020 | www.theadvocate.com.au

A plan for a new wind farm at Circular Head has been amended to have fewer turbines.

Renewable energy developer Epuron’s Western Plains Wind Farm is proposed for a freehold cattle grazing property at the tip of the Stanley peninsula.

“As our detailed analysis of the project has continued, we have removed one turbine from the layout to maximise the exposure to the wind and still make the most efficient use of the connection capacity of the wind farm,” Sydney-headquartered Epuron said.

“So the current layout has 12 turbines rather than 13, and this is the layout for which we will be seeking planning consent from (the Circular Head) Council.

The wind farm would be 4.5 kilometres from Stanley.

An underground cable would connect it to the Port Latta substation.

“Together with TasNetworks, who will build, own and operate the underground power line, we have identified a route that takes all known constraints into consideration and minimises impacts to the community and the environment,” Epuron said.

It said it was updating and finalising documents for a development proposal and environmental management plan to be submitted to the Environment Protection Authority later this year.

Epuron also planned to submit a development application to the council later this year.

It aimed to have development approvals by the June quarter of 2021, with construction starting in late 2021 and commissioning in late 2022.

The project is expected to have a 25-year working life.

Epuron is also planning to establish a community fund of $36,000 per year over the 25 years, totalling $900,000.

It said it had heard diverse ideas and enthusiasm for the fund in the community.

“We will continue to engage with council and the community regarding the practical aspects of the establishment and operation of the community fund,” it said.

The first payment into the fund would be when the project was commissioned.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2020/06/11/circular-head-wind-farm-plan-amended-with-fewer-turbines/