Acciona, the company behind Tall Tree Wind Farm, to seek environmental approval

The European company planning a wind farm on the outskirts of Geelong that has faced strong opposition from the local community has earmarked the date it will seek formal government approval.

Senator Sarah Henderson spoke at an April 2024 rally opposing the Tall Tree wind near Lethbridge. Picture: Mark Wilson.

The company behind a proposed wind farm northwest of Geelong will soon seek state government approval for the project, as it continues to navigate community opposition.

Spanish company Acciona’s Tall Tree Wind Farm is planned to be built at a site within the Golden Plains Shire, near the towns of Lethbridge, Teesdale and Meredith

It will include up to 53 wind turbines, capable of powering 250,000 homes.

The next step in the project is environmental assessment and referral to the government, which Acciona spokesman William Churchill said the company was looking to submit by early April.

The site of the proposed Tall Tree Wind Farm. Picture: Mark Wilson

The project has already faced strong community opposition, including a demonstration of 350 people in April last year.

Community feedback has prompted changes, with Acciona reducing the maximum height of turbines by 20m and removing six turbines from the project altogether.

“The consultation work we’ve undertaken pre-notification has been really insightful and thorough,” Mr Churchill said.

“From it we’ve amended part of the project layout, as well as reduced the overall height of turbines.”

The company released their proposed route for the project’s transmission corridor on Tuesday.

The 220kv overhead transmission lines will stretch 11.3km to connect to an existing line that joins Moorabool to Ballarat.

The company said it was engaged in ongoing discussions with community, neighbours, and interest groups.

During a recent series of community information sessions, Acciona answered more than 40 questions on notice on topics including fire risk, impacts on emergency services, and the effect of shadows flickering and noise.

“The consultation phase is the opportunity for the community to have a voice into the project and provide feedback from all stakeholders and perspectives,” Mr Churchill said.

But objectors claim their concerns are falling on deaf ears, with Andrea McKendry saying “we haven’t been heard at all” through the consultation process.

“It is a big deal to us,” she said.

“We moved out here for a certain quality of life and the things that we cherish which are the wildlife and the quiet – we don’t want the white noise coming down.”

Andrea McKendry (front left) is part of the opposition to a large-scale wind farm near Teesdale and Lethbridge. Picture: Mark Wilson

Her biggest concern with the project is the impact it could have on the environment, including raptors and lizards.

“When we’ve spoken to the company about it they’re like ‘there’ll be a small percentage but it’s not a big issue’,” Ms McKendry said.

“Well it is if you’re that bird that’s dead.”

With the next stage of the project bearing down, Mr Churchill said Acciona would continue its community engagement.

“As with all our projects, we continue to consult and engage with the entire community throughout the wind farm’s life, but specifically the information gathered during the consultation stage forms part of our project application,” he said.

Originally published as Acciona, the company behind Tall Tree Wind Farm, to seek environmental approval