Cherry Tree Windfarm Approved Under New Victorian Government Rules

Researched by Industrial Info Resources Australia (Perth, Australia)--Infigen Energy Limited's (New South Wales, Australia) 40-megawatt (MW) Cherry Tree Windfarm became the first windfarm to be approved under the Victorian government's new planning rules. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) gave the official go-ahead for the windfarm on November 26, 2013, following assessments made by the Mitchell Shire Council.

VCAT cited advice from the New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian health departments: "The available evidence does not support claims that inaudible sounds can have direct physiological effects."

Infigen has been working on the project to secure the approvals for the last four years and has been in constant communication with the council and the local community, including Broadford Environmental Action Movement (BEAM) and Mitchell Environment Group. The Cherry Tree Windfarm will be constructed southeast of Seymour, Victoria. The proposal is to install 12 to 16 turbines to generate about 40 to 50 MW of electricity, which will be sufficient to power about 22,000 homes.

Infigen Energy's Flyers Creek Windfarm also was given a nod by the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, which has made recommendations to the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) to grant the development approval. The proposed Flyers Creek Windfarm will now be sent to the PAC, which will make its final planning approval decision.

Infigen had to revise the initial 129-MW proposal to meet the planning committee requirements. Infigen plans to begin site construction by the end of next year, with full windfarm operations to commence in the next two to three years.

The windfarm project is expected to comprise up to 43 wind turbines, and the construction would involve installation of a switchyard, cabling, access tracks and other associated infrastructure. The windfarm construction could create approximately 150 jobs and is expected to power approximately 22,000 typical NSW homes.

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