Antinuclear

Victoria’s Planning Tribunal gives go ahead for wind farm

VCAT approves Berrimal Wind Farm changes http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-15/vcat-approves-berrimal-wind-farm-changes/5743290 15 Sep 2014,

Victoria’s planning tribunal has given the green light to changes to a renewable energy company’s plans for a 24-turbine wind farm in the Buloke Shire.

Acciona’s Berrimal Wind Farm had the support of the Buloke Shire but needed approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to make the amendments to its original planning permit.

The project is located between Wedderburn and St Arnaud and is expected to generate 72 megawatts of electricity.

Buloke Shire’s chief executive officer, John Hicks, says the $150 million project will benefit the municipality in a number of ways.

“That will provide six ongoing jobs for maintenance and looking after the turbines, plus the economic development that’s available to other people in the shire because of the added business,” he said.

“There’s also the benefits of rates coming into the shire which relieves the burden on other ratepayers.”

However, Acciona says all its projects, including the Berrimal Wind Farm, are on hold because of the uncertainty caused by the Federal Government’s review of the Renewable Energy Target.

September 16, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Victoria, wind