Nothing ugly about wind farms: Andrews Government

A $650 million, 96 turbine wind farm will be the largest in Victoria as the state bids to become the nation’s renewable energy leader.

The approval of the Dundonnell project means 300 direct and indirect jobs will be created during construction, and the turbines will generate 1000Gwh of clean energy each year – enough to power 140,000 homes.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the world is shifting to renewable energy and Victoria can’t get left behind.

“There’s nothing ugly about windfarms, because there’s nothing ugly about jobs,” he said.

“Windfarms are expected to attract $35 billion worth of investment nationally by 2020, which is great for jobs, the environment and protecting our way of life,” Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said.
Works for the Dundonnell project are expected to begin within 12 months and it’s hoped to be up and running in 2019.

The permit approval follows a thorough Environment Effects Statement process that recommended conditions to minimise potential impacts on wildlife, such as reducing overall turbine numbers and buffer zones around wetlands.