Toowoomba council approves 160m meteorological mast for site considered for wind farm project
A new wind farm project could be coming to the Toowoomba region, after the company spearheading it received approval to gather climate data on a potential site. See where:
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The owner of a major coal-fired power plant wants to build a new wind farm power project in the Toowoomba region, securing council approval for a preliminary stage.
Applicant Millmerran Power Partners got the green light just before Christmas to build a 160m meteorological mast on a 135-hectare cattle property along Kooroongarra Road at Grays Gate, south of Millmerran.
The site is directly south of the Millmerran power station, a partnership between UK firm InterGen, Chinese state corporation China Huenang Group and South Korean firms Daelim and Kiamco.
InterGen, which is the parent company of the applicant, is itself jointly-owned by energy giant Sev. En Energy (owned by Czech entrepreneur and billionaire Pavel Tykac), China Huaneng Group and fellow state firm Guangdong Energy Group.
According to the assessment report by planning officer Geoff Reid, the mast will collect climatic monitoring over four years to determine whether the parcel would be suitable for a wind farm.
“The met mast will be equipped with wind and weather sensors at various heights, which will allow measurements of wind speed, wind direction, wind shear, wind turbulence and air density, among other data,” the report said.
“It will be fitted with lightning arresters and grounded at the base of the tower and at each of the guy wire supports.
“As the purpose of the met mast is to obtain meteorological data to assist in determining the site suitability for the possible future establishment of a wind farm, the use is temporary in nature.
“The anticipated lifespan of the use is up to four years, after which time the mast, all infrastructure and equipment will be removed, and the land returned to a predeveloped state.
“It must be noted that the construction of the Met Mast on the site does not of itself confirm that a wind farm will ultimately be established on the site.”
The Millmerran power station, which has been in operation for 17 years, has an annual output of 6300 gigawatt hours.
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