The New England wind project derided by local National Party MP Barnaby Joyce as “a packet of poo tickets” is slowly winning over the neighbours, with 70 per cent now in favour, according to the developer.
The Winterbourne wind project, potentially sized at up to 730 megawatts (MW), has had some design changes, including the removal of two turbines, and moving of another 21, and changes to transport routes.
In a project update released this week, Winterbourne Wind said New England-based businesses are much more in favour of the economy-boosting project, with 72 per cent in favour.
The general public are still more evenly split, with New Englanders showing 55 per cent support.
The project is located near the town of Walcha, New South Wales (NSW), and inside the New England renewable energy zone (REZ), an area that has been a lightning rod for opposition by Joyce and his wife, former staffer and ex-News Ltd journalist, Vikki Campion.
The first public submissions process saw 959 contributions from people, with just 51 per cent in favour.
The latest round has attracted 394 submissions, and almost two-thirds were from people living in the New England area.
A total of 1355 submissions have now been lodged with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment portal.
Sad lambs and poo tickets
The Winterbourne wind project is not a new idea for the area, having been in the works for around 20 years when a group of farmers first launched the concept.
The project is now being developed by majority owner Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, with fellow Danish giant Vestas leading construction.
But it’s become a bete noir for people worried about the impact of NSW’s energy zones, the changing rural landscape, and anti-renewables campaigners generally.
Campion was one of those who objected, claiming it would create “monumental” environmental destruction and listing imaginative concerns about the impact on farm animals.
“Anecdotally, landholders who succeeded in another court case fighting incessant industrial noise in Queensland claimed their animals, including dogs, cattle and sheep, exhibited signs of stress, including reduced lambing and calving due to consistent low-grade industrial noise,” Campion said.
“If this were not a wind farm, this proposal would be laughed out of any planning authority for the literal monumental environmental destruction it will cause.”
Joyce launched a bizarre attack on the project in 2023 while at a meeting hosted by local anti-wind group, Voice for Walcha, where he called the project “a packet of poo tickets” and urged the attendees to march on Canberra about it.
While it looks like the wind farm is beginning to win over its neighbours, there is still a long way to go through the NSW planning process before shovel hits dirt.
A new submissions report covering the latest round of public comments is being prepared.
“We will be undertaking further assessment in response to comments raised by the state agencies responsible for biodiversity and transport. We are also undertaking assessment and design of public road upgrades in consultation with Walcha and Uralla Shire Council staff,” the news update says.
An assessment of the project by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is expected later this year, which will then be referred to the state’s Independent Planning Commission for determination.
Financial close would then come in 2026 with construction to start in 2027.
The first submissions report and amendment report are available on the NSW Major Projects portal, here.
