Having supplied milk to West Australians for years, farmer Ross Woodhouse could soon be powering the state as well as Synergy eyes off his prime agricultural land for wind turbines.
The state-owned energy provider is looking at setting up a wind farm on agricultural land south-east of Margaret River and is reaching out to landholders to put turbines on their properties.
The plan for Scott River has attracted criticism from some residents, but not Mr Woodhouse.
He said he was excited to be a part of WA’s transition to renewable energy.
“There’s a lot to like about it,” he said
“I feel excited that as a landowner we produce enough milk for 268,000 West Australians every day, we produce electricity to keep their lights on, we produce wool, we produce meat, and we’re minimising our carbon footprint.
“It really would have a minimal impact on us, in terms of our day-to-day operations, and very compatible.”
‘Greater concerns’
Not everyone is as keen.
Second-generation beef farmer Scott Baxter has also been approached by the electricity provider.
He said he was worried a potential development would impact his capacity to expand the farm.
“They’re not taking into account current and future land use,” he said.
“The Scott River district is an area of importance to feed the growing population of the future … turbines will ensure no-one will be able live or work on the farm in the future.
“The easy thing to do would be to say yes … but I have greater concerns about is the farmer being given a fair go? Will we be paid fairly?”
The region is also popular with migratory birds, which Mr Baxter said needed to be protected.
“The Scott River is an important ecological area for birdlife, you’ve got the black cockatoos and the black swans, they migrate and nest … and I think they’d be at risk of the turbines,” he said.
“I’m not completely against wind turbines; I just think with this project in the early stages there’s just no transparency.”
Area under investigation for years
The Augusta-Margaret River Clean Energy group has previously investigated the viability of a 10-megawatt wind farm in the Scott River region.
The group is now working with Synergy on its proposal.
The utility would not be drawn on the scale or capacity of any future development at the site.
“The Scott River area … is one area identified as a potential site for a wind farm development, among other locations,” a Synergy spokeswoman said.
“Synergy is investigating the feasibility of a potential development at this site.
“The investigation is still in its early stages of feasibility.”
‘It can divide communities’
As the WA government works to phase out coal by 2030, Murdoch University wind expert Jonathan Whale is confident renewables can co-exist with industries such as farming.
But Dr Whale said public consultation and environmental studies were the key.
“It can divide communities,” he said.
“It’s a local versus global argument where you have the NIMBY, not in my backyard, scenario but you also have to see the global impact that climate change is having on the planet.
“We’ve known for many decades now how to plan wind farms so they’re not in the migratory path of birds and there are different ways of trying to alert birds that the wind turbines are there.
“Obviously there are environmental impacts with any energy project, and so there has to be environmental impact assessments done … and public consultation is very important.”