WA's Regional Development Assessment Panel approves Synergy's proposed 20-turbine wind farm in the state's South West, ending a period of approvals that has divided the community.
Scott River was the site of a titanium mine that closed due to environmental issues. WA's Regional Development Assessment Panel has approved Synergy 's proposed 20-turbine wind farm in the state's South West.
Synergy says it is analysing the decision and requirements to determine the wind farm's commercial viability. Western Australia's Regional Development Assessment Panel has approved a controversial $500 million onshore wind farm in the state's South West.since it was first announced in 2024, with 400 objections lodged over the application process. The 100-megawatt wind farm, to be developed by state-owned power provider Synergy, is planned for Scott River, 300km south of Perth.
It was unanimously approved after a lengthy meeting in nearby Margaret River on Thursday, subject to Synergy meeting a number of environmental and planning conditions. Supplied: SynergyIn December WA's environmental watchdog decided the proposed renewables project did not require a formal environmental assessment. It was then approved at a federal level by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, which deemed in March that the project was not a controlled action if undertaken in a particular manner.
"A comprehensive analysis … will also be undertaken to determine the commercial viability and timing of the proposed wind farm," they said. Thursday's meeting drew significant local interest, with a crowd of supporters and opponents packing out the Augusta Margaret River shire offices. Four-hundred and five objections were submitted during the development's public consultation. One-hundred and fifty-five were lodged in support.
"I do, however, want to say … it's not a numbers game when it comes to planning," he said. "It's about the planning arguments presented and the impact likely on the development application itself. "Save the Scott River coordinator Scott Baxter said the panel had failed to address concerns over the project's size, noise and environmental impact. "Considering there were so many people here today in opposition with really valid concerns and they basically just ignored it," he said.
"This will change the complete fabric of our community. It'll never be the same again.
"You put 20 of those turbines on a small footprint at the Scott River on a flood plain, it's just going to change it forever. " But Augusta Margaret River Clean Community Energy chair Jessica Worrall said it was a "huge milestone". ABC South West WA: Madigan Landry"This process was started and driven by the community wanting a renewable energy system to reduce emissions in our shire and act on climate change," she said.
Jessica Worrall hopes the community will get behind the project. The proposed turbines would reach a maximum height of 250 metres, measured to the tip of the turbine blades. Electricity from the proposed wind farm would feed into the Beenup substation, powering nearby homes and businesses before being distributed into the South West Interconnected System. Within its 3,597-hectare development envelope, the project includes a total disturbance area of 107 hectares.
According to the proposal, no more than a hectare of native vegetation would be cleared.
Scott River Wind Farm Onshore Wind Farm South West Wind Farm Coal Transition Renewable Transition WA SWIS Wind Farm Cost Wa Energy Wa News South West News Synergy
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