Planning and Environment
The Environment Effects Statement (EES) and planning permit applications were submitted to the relevant authorities in April 2015 and the final planning approval for the wind farm was granted in July 2016 for up to 96 turbines. Approval was also granted under the commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
In December 2017, the Minister for Planning approved a variation to the maximum tip-height of the turbines, increasing this from 165m to 189m. The total number of turbines to be installed was also reduced from up to 96 to up to 88.
Please find copies of the planning permits and approvals for the project below:
An electronic copy of the main EES document is available below. If you would like to view any attachments to this document we can provide these on request.
There are a number of management plans that have been prepared for the project. A copy of the Bat and Avifauna Management Plan, Brolga Compensation Plan (and annual reporting) and Environmental Management Plan can be found below.
A copy of the endorsed Noise Compliance Test Plan, Pre-construction Noise Assessment and EPA Accredited Auditors Report can be found below:
The EPBC Approval annual reports can be downloaded below.
The Dundonnell Wind Farm will produce enough clean energy each year to power about 245,000 homes - or more than enough for all of Ballarat, Warrnambool and Geelong. The project will save the emission of roughly 1.3 million tonnes of carbon. This is the equivalent of removing about 440,000 cars from our roads.
Wind farms offer many other benefits including drought-proofing farms and improving access for fire fighters through the creation of additional fire breaks.