The wind farm will finally be built seven years after it first received special development approval.
This move by the company is followed by the Australian government’s commitment to 20% of the nation’s electricity supply coming from renewable sources by 2020.
“We have spent the last few months getting the project ready for the new Renewable Energy Target and we have a completion date set for the last quarter of 2010,” TrustPower Project Manager Rodney Ahern said.
It may be recalled that in earlier June 2002, TrustPower has proposed to establish a wind farm on Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia at Myponga/Sellicks Hill in order to reduce greenhouse gases produced by conventional forms of electricity generation.
The development application to set up the 34–turbineMyponga/Sellicks Hill wind farm was sponsored by the Department of Industry and Trade (DIT). On behalf of TrustPower, a development application has been submitted by DIT to the Development Assessment Commission (DAC) in June 2002. Later the number of turbines proposed for the project has been reduced to 20.
In August 2002, the Minister directed that the 20–turbine Myponga/Sellicks Hill Wind Farm application would be processed as a Major Development because of the farm’s sensitive location, visual effects and proximity to dwellings, among other things.
An environmental report prepared for public scrutiny by TrustPower attracted 270 submissions for and against the project after a two-month viewing period. Subsequent consultation between the government and the developer regarding public concerns saw the original 34-turbine proposal reduced to 20 turbines.
Following consideration of all public and government submissions, the SA Major Developments Panel has determined that the proposal will be subject to the processes and procedures of a Public Environmental Report.
The state government has approved the project in November 2003, under the Government’s Wind Farms planning strategy, however it has been subject to a number of changes since then. The project cost was originally claimed to be around $60 million and supposed to have a generating capacity of 35 megawatts.
Recent changes sought to reduce the turbine numbers from 20 to 16 and increase the generating capacity to 3 MW per turbine, raising the output from the original 35 MW to 48 MW.
It was reported that in earlier February 2, 2004, the local residents in Myponga, South Australia have protested against the state government’s approval of TrustPower on the belief that the South Australia Department of Transport and Urban Planning initially rejected the proposal.
In September 2008, the South Australian Opposition government has opposed the Myponga Sellicks Hill wind farm and called on the state government to stop the project. They were concerned that the wind farm will affect local bird life and will be an eyesore.
State Energy Minister Pat Conlon said the wind farm was approved because the government was “looking to unlock billions of dollars in renewable energy investment as part of our plans to establish a green energy hub in SA”.
