CIS-winning wind project seeks approval for fewer but taller turbines, and shorter blades, to protect bats

A Victoria wind project is seeking approval to changes to its layout, turbine numbers and size as it seeks a work around to restrictive conditions imposed by the state government more than three year ago.

The 350 megawatt Willatook wind project, near Orford in south-west Victoria and about 20 kms north of Port Fairy, has faced stiff opposition from members of the local community and had provisions placed on its state planning approval that had been described as “unworkable” by the Clean Energy Council.

But the project, developed by Wind Prospect and now also being led by Engie Australia, which has an option to purchase, was a winner of one of the federal government’s Capacity Investment Scheme tenders this year and has proposed some significant changes to address some of the impacts, particularly on the southern bent-wing bat.

Among the proposed changes are a relocation of some turbines – away from wetlands and other sensitive areas – and a cut in turbine numbers from 59 to 52.

The developers are also seeking permission to lift both the minimum and maximum hub heights of the turbines, reduce the blade rotor diameter and increase minimum blade tip clearance from 40 metres to 60 metres above ground level.

The changes are addressed directly at concerns about the impacts on wildlife in the area, particularly the south bent-wing bat. Locals have also raised concerns about the potential impact on brolgas.

“In several respects, the varied action materially reduces potential ecological interaction risk compared with the previously describe action,” Wind Prospect writes in its application.

“Wind Prospect acknowledges the importance of continued engagement with DCCEEW regarding the assessment and management of residual risks, particularly in relation to Southern Bent-wing Bat.

“The varied action adopts a layered mitigation framework incorporating habitat-based avoidance and minimisation, increased blade tip clearance, operational controls, post- construction monitoring and adaptive management measures.”

The Willatook wind project, which includes a proposal for a 200 MW, 400 MWh battery, won approval in 2023 from the state government, subject to strict provisions to address potential impacts on the Brolga and Southern Bent-wing Bats.

The conditions included increased buffers and a five month window where construction was not allowed. The company and the Clean Energy Council said the conditions were unworkable.

Wind Prospect notes that the proposed changes follow a state government decision in May 2025 to issue new official guidelines to help renewable energy projects manage potential impacts on wildlife, such as Brolgas and bats.

The Willatook developers now have approval from the federal government through the EPBC, but are still working their way through the state planning system.

In a letter to the community in July, which included the table above, the developers said the updated design reflects the work of additional environmental studies and further measures to minimise potential impacts to wildlife.

The changes also include a reduction in the length of access tracks and trenches for underground electrical cabling, and minor refinements to the project boundary and a reduction in the impacted area.

The maximum rotor diameter is being reduced from 190 metres to 175 metres, an increase in the minimum blade tip height from 40 metres to 60 metres above ground level, and an increase in the maximum turbine tip height from 250 metres to 254 metres.

Renew Economy has reached out to Engie, which has said it hopes to reach financial close for the project in 2027, and complete it by 2029, for further comment.

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