Wind farm proposed for development along new transmission corridor gets approval after years in pipeline

Plans to build an up to 17 turbine wind farm near Kerang in north-western Victoria have been given state development approval, marking a new milestone for a project that has been in the works since 2019, when developer WestWind Energy began monitoring the wind resource.

Victoria-based WestWind said on Monday that is has been approved to develop the 122 megawatt (MW) Normanville Energy Park on around 1,933 hectares of land mainly used for cereal cropping near the town of the same name in Victoria’s Gannawarra Shire.

The project sits within the North West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and south-west of Kerang, a region which will also host a section of the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) transmission project.

The plan is to have the wind farm operational by 2028. The up-to 8 MW turbines would have a tip height of 280m and operate for up to 40 years. A 7.2km underground transmission line would connect into the Koorangie terminal station.

Westwind says the project has undergone several years of “detailed” development to get to this point, including comprehensive environmental and technical assessments and engagement with key stakeholders, including local farmers to ensure existing agricultural activities can continue.

“The state approval of Normanville Energy Park … reflects years of careful planning, technical assessment and collaboration to deliver a project that will contribute to Victoria’s renewable energy future,” said WestWind managing director Tobias Geiger in a statement on Monday.

“We recognise the important role the Victorian government continues to play in supporting the delivery of renewable energy infrastructure that will help strengthen Victoria’s energy system and support regional communities.

“We would also like to thank our host landholders, Gannawarra Shire Council, government agencies, local stakeholders and everyone who has contributed throughout the state planning approval process. Their engagement and feedback have helped shape a responsible and well-designed project,” Geiger said.

During construction, the project is expected to attract approximately $350 million in investment to Victoria and create up to 60 on-site jobs over a two-year period. Once operational, the wind farm will support two to three ongoing local roles.

“WestWind Energy … looks forward to working closely with stakeholders to deliver a project that creates long-term benefits for the region and contributes to Victoria’s clean energy future,” Geiger says.

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