Labor waves through Australia’s biggest wind farm – a project “not possible” under state Coalition buffer policy

Plans to build what would be Australia’s biggest wind farm in Victoria’s Wimmera region have been given the final tick of approval by the state Labor government, leaving just a federal green tick in the way of the huge battery-backed project going ahead.

An update from the Carroll government on Thursday says it has now signed off on the 219-turbine, more than 1.5 gigawatts (GW) Warracknabeal Energy Park, being developed by local outfit WestWind Energy.

The state approval comes in the nick of time, ahead of the November Victorian election, which recent polls suggest could be won by a Jess Wilson-led Coalition – a party that is proposing to introduce a default 2 km buffer zone between regional renewables projects and residential dwellings.

WestWind’s Warracknabeal project – which now needs to secure approval through the federal EPBC Act – proposes to install the turbines on around 26,000 hectares of agricultural land about 5 km to the west of Warracknabeal, across two sites: one 5 km northwest and the other 8 km southwest.

WestWind is also planning to install two 300-600 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage systems (BESS) at each of the project’s proposed substations.

“Victoria has the cheapest power in Australia because Labor has invested in renewables – the cheapest form of energy,” the joint statement from state planning minister Sonya Kilkenny and state energy minister Jaclyn Symes says.

“Projects like this are critical to delivering Victoria’s nation-leading renewable energy targets of 65 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035.”

The energy park was given state environmental approval back in May, when Kilkenny signed off on the project’s Environment Effects Statement (EES).

WestWind said this week that beyond its “significant contribution” to the state’s energy future, the Warracknabeal Energy Park would inject more than $5 billion into the region and create around 950 jobs during construction.

The approval of the project also ensures the delivery of its proposed Community Benefit Fund, which once operational will provide more than $12 million over the life of the project, the company says.

“Today’s announcement is an important milestone for the Warracknabeal Energy Park and reflects a decade of detailed planning, technical assessment and engagement with the local community,” said WestWind Energy managing director, Tobias Geiger.

“We are particularly grateful to the landholders, community members and local stakeholders who have engaged with us throughout the development process. Their contribution has beenn invaluable in shaping the project.”

Environment Victoria has described the final state development approval of Warracknabeal Energy Park as a critical milestone in securing the state’s renewable energy transition ahead of closure of its “ailing” coal plants.

“This wind farm alone will provide enough renewable energy to power 1.2 million homes – it’s a great example of why we need to press ahead with transmission infrastructure to distribute renewable energy across the state,” said Kat Lucas-Healey, Environment Victoria’s senior climate and energy advisor.

“The two battery energy storage systems included as part of the project will ensure power keeps flowing even when winds are light – keeping the lights on in Western Victoria and across the state.”

Lucas-Healey also points out that the Warracknabeal Energy Park would not be possible under a state Coalition government, given its promise to bring back a 2 km setback zone.

“[The exclusion zone policy is] a blunt instrument that takes away people’s right to negotiate with developers and access the benefits of hosting clean energy,” Lucas-Healey says.

“Instead, towns in Yarriambiack shire and beyond will receive an economic boost and dozens of local landowners and neighbours will benefit from a new source of income.”

“Building more clean, renewable energy is the fastest way to bring down energy costs for Victorians,” says Lucas-Healey. 

WestWind is the originator of what is currently Australia’s largest wind farm, the 1.33 GW Golden Plains project in Victoria, and is also seeking approvals for a 1.5 GW wind farm and 2,400 MWh battery in south-western New South Wales and developing plans for a 1.5 GW project in northern Queensland.

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