Australia’s largest wind farm depends on tiny island community’s vote

VIDEO King Island residents to vote on wind farms http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/king-island-residents-to-vote-on-wind-farms/4729950

(includes video)Southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm hinges on King Island community support Jun 3, 2013 The development of what would be the southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm hinges on a survey in the small Tasmanian community of King Island. Residents and land-owners will vote yes or no to the proposal to build the 200-turbine wind farm, which would play a huge role in helping Australia meet its renewable energies targets.

Hydro Tasmania says the the farm will bring hundreds of millions of dollars into the local community, as well as infrastructure upgrades and at least 60 jobs. Each of the turbines, designed to take advantage of the Roaring Forties, will be 150m tall from the base of the turbine to the tip of the blade.

But the local community, with a population of 1,500, has to give the project its stamp of approval – something that is far from assured.

Hydro will send out surveys on Friday to gauge the level of community support before it goes ahead with an $18 million feasibility study.It says it wants 60 per cent approval from the local community…..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/community-support-vital-for-king-island-wind-farm/4729432