Plibersek gives the green light to three controversial wind farms

Three controversial wind farm projects have been given the green light by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, including the bitterly disputed Hills of Gold, south of Tamworth.

Three controversial wind farm projects have been given the green light by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, including the bitterly disputed Hills of Gold, south of Tamworth.

New wind farms, including the 1332 megawatt Liverpool Range Wind Farm near Coolah and the 700 megawatt Spicers Creek Windfarm near Gulgong in the Central West were approved this week.

The most controversial project approved is Engie’s Hills of Gold wind farm at Nundle, near Tamworth which will host 62 turbines.

Three controversial wind farm projects have been given the green light by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

The project has been the centre of a seven -year bitter dispute between opponents and supporters of the development, with residents saying the site was on prime grazing land with indirect impacts on two national parks. Many landowners also felt that land access issues had not been dealt with.

The approval was given despite objections from Tamworth Regional council over concerns around site suitability and impacts on biodiversity.

Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has approved three new wind farm projects. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Nundle resident, Mark Eather who has been fighting against the proposal said the approval was “extremely disappointing” and felt political in its timing so close to an election.

“Tanya Plibersek is signing off on these three projects just before going to the polls - it’s not about the community, its not about the environment, it’s about politics,” he said.

Ms Plibersek said the government has now approved 77 renewable energy projects, equivalent to empowering more than 10 million homes.

“We’ve already added 15GW of renewable energy to the grid. That’s more energy capacity than Peter Dutton’s entire nuclear plan could hope to produce in 25 years,” she said.

“This is what action on cost of living and climate change looks like.

“I’ve now approved enough new renewable energy to power more than 10 million homes – nearly every single Australian household.”

Ms Plibersek said the new approvals came with strict conditions to protect nature and included height and land clearing limits as well as management plans for the protection of birds and bats.

Additionally she said the projects were expected to create 1340 construction jobs and 80 permanent jobs.