Wind project developers propose accelerated payments to near neighbours: But there’s a catch

The developers of the proposed Sunny Corner wind project – set down for a state forest between Lithgow and Bathurst – have proposed an accelerated payments scheme for near neighbours that would see them receive more money in half the time.

The developers of the 500 megawatt (MW) project, in the Sunny Corner state forest owned by the NSW government, have set aside a $100 million kitty for neighbours who own a home between 1 km and 2.5 kms of the proposed turbine locations.

And now they’re offering those neighbours the chance to up their payments and be paid out in 15 years instead of 32 years. 

The catch is the 15 year sum, while significantly larger each year, works out to lower in total than for those who are patient and willing to take the full 32 year annuity.

“We’ve heard from some near neighbours that they would like more time to consider the Near Neighbour Program, and from others that they’d prefer to receive payments over a shorter period of time,” said Someva Renewables managing director Jamie Chivers in a statement.

“The new Accelerated Payment option responds directly to this feedback, providing flexibility and more immediate financial benefits to those neighbours who would like it, while maintaining fairness across the program.”

The payment itself comes in two parts: an annual base rate that depends on how far a house is from the nearest turbine, and a visual payment that pays out $250 a year for every “cell” containing a turbine that can be seen from a house. 

Neighbours who want to be paid out over 15 years get a 60 per cent higher annual base rate and see their visual payment bumped up by 1.6 times. 

As the developers explain on the Sunny Corner website, a person living 1.7km from the closest turbine and can see 13 cells from their main viewpoint will receive $7,750 a year over 32 years, or $12,400 a year under the accelerated option.

The former works out at a total $248,000, and the latter at $186,000.

Offering a shortened payment period adds an extra complication, however: what happens if a future resident who moves into a home tied to the shortened offer after the 15 year period is up doesn’t, for whatever reason, like the impact of the wind farm next door?

Someva’s head of community Felicity Stenning says people who accept the 15 year offer must also sign a caveat over their property, to make that future owners and residents are aware that they’re living next to a wind farm for the full 32 year life of the project.

“This is to ensure that acceptance of Accepted Impacts under the Deed continues for the full 32 year life of the project, even if the property is sold to a new owner,” she told Renew Economy.

Mainstream Renewable Power country manager Greg Politakis says the new option is all about giving people living in Sunny Corner, Dark Corner, Yetholme, Meadow Flat, and on rural properties surrounding the project flexibility. 

They’ve also given people more time to decide whether they want to participate at all, with a new deadline of 28 February 2026.

The developers reiterate that signing up doesn’t mean those neighbours have to commit to non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality clauses.

The wind farm is also to come with a 500 MW, four hour battery, which the developers submitted for development approval nine months ago and to the federal EPBC process three months ago. 

While the developers say the project will be around 500 MW, the development application is for a project of up to 640 MW with turbines rated around 8MW each, with a hub height of up to 185 metres and a maximum tip height of up to 285 metres.

* This article has been updated with comments from Felicity Stenning.

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