Thursday 5 July 2007

Long wait for VCAT decision

Hepburn Shire Advocate
Wednesday 4/7/2007 Page: 7

A DECISION on the Leonards Hill wind farm proposal will not be released for at least a month. A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing began on June 19, but it is expected to be months before a decision is handed down. Hepburn Shire Council approved the proposal in February despite receiving 18 objections. Objectors then went to VCAT to appeal the council's decision.

Melbourne-based company Future Energy and the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association are developing the wind farm. If passed, it will become Australia's first community owned wind farm, modelled on similar projects across Europe and the United States. The proposal consists of two two-megawatt wind turbines to be built on farmland at 2040 Ballan-Daylesford Rd, Leonards Hill. Future Energy managing director David Shapero said he hoped the group was granted a permit. "The project is a magnificent initiative by the community to take responsibility for their own energy needs," Mr Shapero said.

0 comments: