A beleaguered wind farm planned for south-west Victoria hits further turbulence as its leaders warn surprise government environmental recommendations make it unviable and risk the state’s renewable energy transition.
Key points:
- The recommendations include a larger buffer zone for endangered species living nearby
- It will reduce the number of turbines and the wind farm’s energy output
- The proposal has faced community and council opposition since its announcement in 2011
Wind Prospect has proposed to construct up to 59 wind turbines about 20 kilometres north of Port Fairy on south-west Victoria farmland for its $800-million Willatook Wind Farm project.
If approved, the project would have the capacity to power up to 200,000 Victorian homes, but the site is near the habitat of endangered native species, specifically the brolga crane, which breeds on wetlands, and the southern bent-wing bat.
On Friday, the Victorian Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny released her assessment of the project, following the preparation of an environmental effects statement and completion of a planning inquiry.
Among the recommendations were widened turbine-free buffer zones for the brolga and bats, which would reduce the number of turbines and the farm’s energy output, along with a five-month moratorium on construction throughout the brolga breeding season from July through to the end of November.
Wind Prospects managing director Ben Purcell said the Willatook team was blindsided by the recommendations after working closely with government agencies throughout the development process.
“The project isn’t viable if we were to implement the recommendations,” he said.
He said it would require 300 or 400 on-site workers to down their tools and construction equipment to sit idle for five months of each year.
“The construction of these projects generally takes two years … it’s totally unworkable,” Mr Purcell said.
“It’s not just an issue with the Willatook Wind Farm. It’s an issue with the industry more broadly … It sets a really dangerous precedent.”
In development since 2011, the Willatook Wind Farm would include a battery energy storage facility and supporting infrastructure across more than 4,000 hectares.
Projects need to be ‘balanced’
In her minister’s assessment report, Ms Kilkenny noted the impact of her recommendations.
“I acknowledge the revised buffers will substantially reduce the number of turbines within the proposed wind farm footprint and that these modifications may affect the project’s energy generation,” the report stated.
“However, while the transition to renewable energy generation is an important policy and legislative priority for Victoria, projects need to be balanced with the protection of declining biodiversity values, which is also a priority and legislative requirement.”
Clean Energy Council policy director Nicholas Aberle said the recommendations were concerning.
“If these are the types of restrictive conditions that we’re going to see on wind farms in future in Victoria, then there’s no way we’ll meet the government targets for renewable energy or for climate change,” he said.
“The fewer wind turbines we can build, the more we keep burning coal, and that’s not the direction we want to be heading.”
He said the outcome could have a ripple effect on other renewable energy projects.
“It makes what should be a thorough process unpredictable, which is not what investors want to be seeing,” Mr Aberle said.
Renewable energy goals on track
The minister’s assessment was not a decision on whether the project would receive a permit approval.
A Victorian government spokesperson said it would help inform decision makers on approvals for the project.
The spokesperson added the state was on track to deliver 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035.
“We currently have 73 large scale onshore wind and solar projects commissioned or in commissioning — this will deliver a combined capacity of 5.5 gigawatts.”
Company to ‘work through it’
Mr Purcell said he would seek to work with the government to get the Willatook Wind Farm project back on track.
“We need to try to work through it,” he said.
It was not the first time the project had faced a setback.
Moyne Shire Council last year unanimously voted to object to the project’s permit application after public consultation indicated community opposition.
A council spokesperson said it had received the report and noted the recommendations would reduce the size of the farm.
“Council is pleased to see that the minister gives due consideration to protecting the importance of the Warrnambool airport, supports the establishment of an on-site quarry, and provides detailed recommendations, if a permit is issued, to ensure local roads are fit for purpose,” the spokesperson said.
“It is disappointing that more weight was not given to council’s position on cumulative impacts, undergrounding new transmission infrastructure and landscape impacts.”