Planned wind farm ‘too close’ to homes
Residents have rallied against a proposed wind farm northwest of Geelong, saying the turbines will be too close to homes.
About 350 people gathered at Lethbridge Airport on Sunday to protest a 360MW Tall Tree wind farm, which could power 265,000 homes.
Spanish company Acciona is hoping to build 60 wind turbines, each measuring 271m tall, which is understood would be the highest turbines in Australia.
Acciona has already locked in landowners between Lethbridge and Teesdale who would have the turbines on their properties.
Kate Sanderson from nearby Meredith said locals were concerned about the height of the turbines and how close the proposed wind farm was to people’s homes. She said the turbines would be 1km from her house.
“Why would you propose something so new for such a small, built-up area,” she said.
“It’s really frustrating because it doesn’t make any sense for this area.
“We’re not against renewables or wind farms but it need to be pushed away from residential properties.”
Mrs Sanderson raised concerns about the impact to
emergency services who were regularly based at Lethbridge Airport, especially during the bushfire season.
Firefighters and police aircraft regularly fly over where the turbines are proposed to be built.
“There are bushfire overlays across the majority of the area,” she said.
“It’s important (for emergency services) to not have an increased flight path because reaction time is everything.”
Lethbridge Airport owner Garry Baum told this masthead last month that the wind farm would affect flight training operations and he feared his business may go bust.
The state’s planning laws were overhauled earlier this month to fast-track renewable projects but residents are no longer allowed to appeal proposals in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
“It’s not fair,” Mrs Sanderson said.
“We deserve a chance to speak and be heard.”
Mrs Sanderson hoped there would be more information made available to residents.
“We are still in the early phases and there will be more consultations but what has been presented so far frightens everybody,” she said.
Geelong-based senator Sarah Henderson and state opposition planning spokesman James Newbury spoke at Sunday’s rally.
Acciona spokeswoman Caroline Bommes said it had been “comprehensively responding to queries from the community about the project”.
“These have ranged from project specifics on turbine placement and project management to broader questions about coexistence with existing land uses and community benefits,” she said.
“The present placement is an early design. It is important for us to ensure the community is consulted on project design, benefits and investment, before seeking approval to go ahead.”
If given the green light, the project could begin building in mid-2026.
Ms Bommes said more information sessions would be held for the community. “Nearly 200 members of the community came to our initial sessions (last month),” she said.