Friends of the Earth Melbourne applauds the Supreme Court’s ruling that the proposed Delburn wind farm is legal and can proceed.
The Delburn wind farm will be the first wind farm established in an Australian plantation and the first wind farm developed in the Latrobe Valley.
Because the plantation is already a heavily modified industrial site, the organisation said constructing a wind farm on the property is an effective method to maintain the natural environment.
“Our energy system is changing, the Latrobe Valley has a proud history of energy production and it is great to see that the Valley will continue to play a part in Victoria’s energy production,” Friends of the Earth Melbourne Community Organiser Wendy Farmer said.
Around 186 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the two-year construction period, and roughly 24 direct and indirect new, ongoing jobs will be created during the project’s 30-year operating life.
According to the organisation, OSMI, the wind farm’s developers, will make an annual investment of around $600,00 in the local community through neighbourhood and community initiatives and a contribution of approximately $400,000 to the local council in lieu of rates.
“We have campaigned for many years in support of the wind farm. We welcome the court’s decision to validate the planning permit and are looking forward to seeing the wind farm constructed’ said Trevor Hore, of the local resident’s group Strzelecki Sustainable Futures.
Friends of the Earth added it would continue to monitor the progress of the Delburn wind farm.
