Woolsthorpe Wind Farm to change height, number of turbines

A plan for a new windfarm in the state’s southwest has been changed to see taller turbines built at the site. See what else is planned.

Wind turbines in Victoria’s southwest could reach heights of 230m, if plans go ahead for a new wind farm.

The Woolsthorpe Wind Farm had originally planned to build 20 wind turbine generators at the site 25km inland, but it is now looking to reduce the number of turbines to 13.

The turbines would grow to be 230m tall, rather than the previously approved 168m, with the blades now reaching 66m above ground level.

The change in turbines comes after the company was “no longer able to source the previously approved turbines”, a letter from KLM Spatial’s Katelyn Nash to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning said.

“Through advances in technology, a more efficient turbine is now proposed,” Ms Nash said.

She said there would be a “low to moderate change in the visual impact due to the increase in height” but that there would be a “reduced potential impact on the Southern Bent Wing Bat as a results of less turbines, maintaining the setbacks from their likely habitat ... and increasing the ground clearance of turbine blades”.

The amended plans have been put out for community consultation.

Submissions are open until October 21, and can be mailed to PO Box 51 in Port Fairy, or emailed to [e-mail].