Twin Creek wind farm by RES Australia secures planning approval
A wind farm at Kapunda will help lower power prices, planning officials say. And wombats and lizards will be protected under revised plans.
SA News
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A $300 million wind farm near Kapunda has been given the go ahead after satisfying concerns about wombats, lizards and frost.
The Twin Creek project will help drive down electricity prices, the State Commission Assessment Panel said in granting approval despite local opposition.
The developer, RES Australia, said all wind turbines would be at least 2km from neighbouring housing and its plans had been adapted to protect wildlife.
“We have taken every possible action to mitigate the impact of this development on the local wildlife and community,” project manager Dan Leahy said.
“Our aim is for Twin Creek to support the area’s biodiversity as well as its people, and the project will bring 160 construction jobs, followed by ongoing employment for 8 people.
“The local towns have seen a number of businesses close in recent years, and this project will provide a tremendous economic boost to the area.
“It’s not uncommon to receive objections to these sort of developments but, now the decision has been made, we hope the community will continue to engage with us.”
The RES Australia project comprises 51 wind turbines up to 180m high generating 185MW power and a 50MW grid-scale battery.
RES is a subsidiary of 150-year-old British family-owned company Sir Robert McAlpine, which built the original Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Dome and London’s Olympic Stadium.
The assessment panel on Friday said the Twin Creek project, 11km north-east of Kapunda in the Mid North, was in line with the development policies of the area.
Although there would be a visual impact “there are no visually sensitive or scenic areas in the
region”, the design mitigated affects on fauna and flora and there were no conservation sites of significance, the panel said.
In addition, it would be positive for South Australia’s electricity system.
“From a strategic perspective, the proposal aligns with the electricity network priorities of SA, especially improving the reliability and security of the electricity grid and putting downward pressure on electricity prices through increased, locally based generation capacity,” the panel said.
Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan welcomed the approval.
“Smoothing the intermittency of renewable energy with grid-scale storage will contribute to lower electricity prices,” he said.
Assessment of the project began in July 2017, with many locals raising concerns about effect on their properties, the possibility of increased frost and restrictions on the Truro Flats airstrip.
Other objections focused on impacts to southern hairy nose wombats and the endangered pygmy blue-tongued lizard.
Conditions imposed by the panel include management plans for wombats and lizards.
Wombat Awareness Organisation founder Brigitte Stevens said there were still concerns, especially active permits for destroyed wombats by local landowners.
“However, RES has done a lot of work and we hope to be able to continue working with them,” she said.
On frost, the panel heard there was insufficient specific research from Australia but overseas studies found turbines actually decreased frost risk.
The panel found the airstrip already was highly restricted and noted RES had offered to fund an improved runway.
RES will now seek to finalise funding for the estimated $300 million cost of the project, negotiate power purchase agreements and transmission connection and secure remaining approvals to meet SCAP conditions.
It aims to begin construction by late 2020 with a 20-month build period.