David BRAITHWAITE
DETAILS of the proposed Gelliondale Wind Farm Project are available for public viewing and feedback.
The state government is considering a planning permit application from Synergy Energy for the 13-turbine on-shore project west of Yarram.
The proponent claims the project will have total generating capacity of about 80 megawatts, with its application also including adjacent compacted hardstand areas, underground electrical and cabling, a 40MW battery energy storage system (BESS), substation to connect the project to the existing electricity grid infrastructure at the site.
Plus, operation and maintenance facilities, construction compounds, one or more permanent meteorological masts, access tracks, access points and associated crossovers will require the removal of 1.244 hectares of native vegetation at defined locations, static water supply for fire-fighting
purposes, gates, cattle grids, and signage.
The proposal contains some similar elements and turbine locations to an earlier proposal known as the Alberton Wind Farm, but is smaller in scale. The Alberton Wind Farm proposed 34 turbines.
The turbines in the latest proposal will have a maximum overall tip height of 210 metres above ground level, and a rotor diameter of up to 164m. The turbine nacelle, containing the generator, will be mounted on tubular steel and/or concrete towers.
The maximum rotor size proposed affords a minimum ground clearance area beneath the rotor swept area of 40m.
In preparation for the submission, Tetra Tech Proteus was engaged to provide an estimated development cost, valuing the Gelliondale Wind Farm at $388 million.
If approved, the substation and BESS will be constructed immediately adjacent to the existing 66-kilovolt transmission line that passes through the site.
There are no new overhead power lines proposed as part of Gelliondale Wind Farm – all of the electricity generated will run through the underground cabling network to the substation.
The detailed design of the substation and BESS facility will be carried out after a planning permit is approved, however, the footprint will be about 0.6ha for the substation and 0.4ha for the BESS.
The project takes up nine parcels of land, with the owners of each consenting to the project.
Synergy Energy withdrew its initial planning permit application and reapplied so it could be considered under a new fast track process, which removes the right of appeal at the Victorian Civial and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The original project was rejected by VCAT, which found the proponent failed to meet one of the key criteria regarding buffer zones between turbines and homes.
Details of the permit application and associated documents are available at www.planning.vic.gov.au/planning-approvals/ministerial-permits-register/ministerial-permits
