Third wind farm proposal tests patience of north-western shire’s residents 

Planned wind farms in one of the state’s western municipalities “would” generate enough power for more than half a million homes. The most recent census shows the Buloke Shire has 3375 homes. The shire is located in north-west Victoria’s grain belt, straddling the border of the Wimmera and Mallee.

Bearing an unequal share of the load for hosting the nation’s renewable energy future has overwhelmed and upset many rural communities. A protest meeting has been called in the heart of the shire at Wycheproof on Friday evening over the latest plans for a third wind farm within the shire which will “promise” to power thousands of even more homes.

The meeting will be held at the Wycheproof Recreation Reserve from 6.30pm for “a discussion on the impacts of turbines, transmission lines, solar panels and mines”.

Unexplained safety concerns led to the cancellation of meetings called by ACEN Australia this week intended to inform the northern Wimmera residents of its “large-scale” wind farm plans.

Buloke Shire residents were surprised to learn ACEN Australia was planning to build a “large-scale” wind farm between Donald, Birchip and Wycheproof. Meetings planned for Wycheproof, Donald and also Birchip have been postponed.

ACEN Australia has refused to outline its safety concerns saying instead the planned community information sessions would be rescheduled. The Philippines-based energy company is still to release any detail on its proposed Corack East Wind project.

Buloke Shire Council says it “continues to maintain a neutral stance” on proposed renewable energy projects. The shire’s main towns are Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Sea Lake and Wycheproof. The state government and not the local council decides planning approvals for these projects.

“Council is committed to prioritising the wellbeing of our community as they navigate these significant developments,” the council’s manager (Community Engagement and Community Recovery) Jo Postlethwaite said. “We acknowledge our community has diverse perspectives on these matters and understand the heightened emotions surrounding them.”

The proposed wind farm is also linked to the planned VNI West transmission line which will cross the Buloke Shire. Transmission Company Victoria is charged with planning VNI West which extends 240km across western and northern Victoria. The power lines are needed to connect the renewable projects to the national electricity grid.

“ACEN Australia is investigating opportunities to connect Corack East Wind to the proposed VNI West interconnector being developed by Transmission Company Victoria,” the company said. “Pending project approval, construction is proposed to begin in 2029, to align with delivery of VNI West.”

RES Australia has already unveiled plans to build a large wind farm deeper into the Mallee at Cannie, about 25km west of Kerang. “The project will commence construction mid to late 2027, pending planning approval and the construction of the Victoria – NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) transmission project.”