New wind farms to deliver on renewable energy target

Two new wind farms worth $500 million will be built in Moyne Shire, creating nearly 200 jobs in the area Planning Minister Justin Madden announced today.

Mr Madden said the Brumby Government is taking action to secure a sustainable and affordable energy supply for Victoria.

These projects will inject $1.5 million annually into the local economies as well as 180 construction jobs and 12 ongoing full-time jobs,” Mr Madden said.

“Together the two wind farms will make a contribution of 15 per cent towards Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target  and will generate almost 200 MW of electricity – enough to supply electricity to more than 97,000 Victorian households.”

Planning permits have been granted for 68 wind turbines at a 3600 hectare site at Ryan Corner about 12 km north-west of Port Fairy , and 31 wind turbines for a 2280 hectare site 2km south east of Hawkesdale, both in Moyne Shire.

The permits were lodged by TME Australia, which will invest up to $445 million in constructing these two projects.

Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the Brumby Government strongly supports investment in renewable energy projects.

“The Ryan Corner and Hawkesdale wind farms will help achieve a more sustainable future for Victoria,” Mr Batchelor said. “The Ryan Corner and Hawkesdale wind farms will help achieve a more sustainable future for Victoria.”

“This project will provide a welcome boost to the Brumby Government’s Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET), which requires a minimum of 10 per cent of Victoria’s electricity consumption to be sourced from renewable energy by 2016.

“VRET has been important to the continued development of the renewable energy industry in Victoria. In the two years since VRET was announced, well over 1000MW of renewable energy projects have been announced.”

Mr Madden accepted the recommendation of an independent panel to grant a planning permit it for the Hawkesdale site.

Mr Madden granted a permit for the Ryan Corner wind farm following consideration of an independent panel assessment of an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) and the planning permit application.