The Supreme Court in Victoria has cleared the way for the first wind farm to be built in a plantation in Australia. Source: Timberbiz
Work is expected to begin on the Delburn windfarm in the La Trobe Valley next year.
Supreme Court Justice Melinda Richards ruled the state planning permit for Delburn Wind Farm is valid, after the Strzelecki Community Alliance (SCA) took the project to court.
Developer Osmi Australia says the project is set to be the first wind farm in the coal power dominated Latrobe Valley and the first in Australia to be set in a plantation.
“We are now focused on getting on with building the wind farm and contributing to a much-needed transition to renewable energy for Latrobe Valley and Gippsland,” said Osmi director Pater Marriot in a statement.
“The Delburn Wind Farm will produce renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and create local employment.”
The project will deliver Approximately 186 direct and indirect jobs during the two-year construction period and approximately 24 direct and indirect new, on-going jobs during the 30-year operating life of the project.
OSMI will invest approximately $600,000 per annum directly to the local community through neighbourhood and community programs as well as making a payment of approximately $400,000 to local council in lieu of rates.
Friends of the Earth Melbourne community organiser Wendy Farmer says building a wind farm in a plantation site is an effective way to protect the natural environment, given the plantation is already a highly modified industrial site.
“Our energy system is changing, the Latrobe Valley has a proud history of energy production and it is great to see that the Valley will continue to play a part in Victoria’s energy production,” she said in a statement.
“As we look across from the old Hazelwood power station site and, to the south, the Yallourn power station now to the emerging wind farm, we are witnessing the energy transformation as it happens.”
