Wonwondah wind farm approved in Victoria

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May 31, 2018

Wonwondah wind farm approved in Victoria

A new 40-megawatt wind farm in Western Victoria that will power more than 25,000 households as part of the ongoing renewable energy jobs boom in Western Victoria has been given the go-ahead today.

Photo by Karsten Würth via Unsplash
Supplied: Victorian Government

Pictured: Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne.

The approval for the thirteen-turbine facility near Wonwondah North was announced today by the Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne.

"This new wind farm is another important step forward in creating a more sustainable future for regional Victoria, powering 25,000 homes and creating 120 construction jobs along the way," Mr. Wynne said.

“In stark contrast to the Coalition who tried to smash the wind industry, we’re supporting the renewables sector to create local jobs and deliver affordable clean energy for hard-working families.”

The wind farm will be developed by NewEn with the 235-meter high turbines producing enough energy to power around 25,000 householders every year. The site has been chosen because it receives undisturbed wind flow with strong, consistent wind speeds near the existing electrical grid.

Minister for Energy, Environment & Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio, said the project will be great for the region.

“This is another great project that will deliver a boost for renewable energy in Western Victoria, and support more even jobs in the booming clean energy sector – all jobs that would be put at risk if the Coalition had their way," she said.

Thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Renewable Energy Target, Victoria is expected to see an estimated $9 billion of investment and around 11,000 jobs created over the life of the scheme. This project is another step in helping Victoria achieve its renewable energy target of 25 per cent renewable energy production by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.

Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford, said the wind farm is a win for the locals.

“This is another win for Western Victoria, a win for local jobs and a win for the environment. Unlike the Coalition who tried to shut down the renewables industry, we’re supporting it to power our regional areas and create jobs," she said.

Construction is anticipated to commence in early 2019.

For more information about wind projects in Victoria, visit the Victorian Government website.