Hepburn Wind Farm has wrapped up a crowd-funding campaign to paint its number two wind turbine, Gusto, with a professional mural.
More than $10,000 was raised, with Melbourne artists Ghostpatrol (David Booth) and Bonsai set to have turned the second turbine into a functional piece of art by November’s Sleep Under the Stars community event.
The Victorian wind farm, Australia’s first community-owned example, had its first turbine, Gale, painted in 2012 as part of the Sustainable Living festival. The live painting event attracted approximately 350 people from the community and gained international attention, with a community in Scotland following suit.
Hepburn Wind has been recognised for its unique approach to community engagement, receiving the Premier’s Sustainability Award, the Banksia Award and the World Wind Energy Award.
“The ongoing benefit of the permanent mural on the turbine will result in the wind farm further becoming a desirable tourism and educational destination for school groups and the broader public,” the company said.
Australian renewables developer Pacific Hydro has also launched a clean energy-themed photography competition to promote the positive attributes of the renewable energy sector and to generate support from the public.
