The Supreme Court has ruled that the Delburn wind farm is valid and can go ahead, after its approval was challenged by the Strzelecki Community Alliance (a group of Victorian residents).
The Delburn wind farm will be the first wind farm in the Latrobe Valley, it will also be the first wind farm built in a plantation in Australia.
The 33-turbine farm was approved by the Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne in March after a planning panel assessed the project last year. It is to be built in pine plantations close to the site of the former Hazelwood coal-fired power station, which closed in 2017.
Friends of the Earth said building a wind farm in a plantation site is an effective way to protect the natural environment as 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,” said Wendy Farmer, Community Organiser, Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
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, the developers of the wind farm, will invest approximately $600,00 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.
“The wind farm will change the Latrobe Valley landscape. 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,” continued Wendy.
“We welcome the court’s decision to validate the planning permit and are looking forward to seeing the wind farm constructed,” said Trevor Hore, of local resident’s group Strzelecki Sustainable Futures.