Australia’s Supreme Court’s has determined the Delburn Wind Farm is valid and can proceed, after its approval was challenged by the Strzelecki Community Alliance (SCA).
Delburn Wind Farm will be the first wind farm in the Latrobe Valley and the first wind farm built in a plantation in Australia.
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“Building a wind farm in a plantation site is an effective way to protect the natural environment as the plantation is already a highly modified industrial site. Hopefully the court’s decision puts the false claims about this project to rest,” Friends of the Earth Melbourne community organiser Wendy Farmer said.
“Our energy system is changing, the Latrobe Valley has a proud history of energy production and it is great to see that the Valley will continue to play a part in Victoria’s energy production.
“The wind farm will change the Latrobe Valley landscape. As we look across from the old Hazelwood power station site and, to the south, the Yallourn power station now to the emerging wind farm, we are witnessing the energy transformation as it happens.
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OSMI, the developers of the wind farm, will invest approximately $600,00 per annum directly to the local community through neighbourhood and community programs as well as making a payment of approximately $400,000 to local council in lieu of rates.
The 200MW wind farm will comprise 33 turbines and power 135,000 homes in the Latrobe Valley region.
