Objector says Golden Plains wind farm planning did not follow proper process

An objector to the $2bn wind farm to be built northwest of Geelong faces a fresh legal challenge, days after the planning minister ticked off on the mega project.

A fresh legal challenge may be on the cards against the southern hemisphere’s largest wind farm due to be built northwest of Geelong.

It comes after the state planning minister granted approval this month for the $2bn Golden Plains wind farm to be built across 17,000ha at Rokewood.

Its developer Westwind hopes to begin construction in the first half of next year, and the project is slated to contribute more than half Victoria’s legislated renewable energy production target of 40 per cent by 2025.

But lawyer Dominica Tannock, representing long-time project objector Hamish Cumming, said proper process had not been followed.

“This is another challenge that’s going to happen,” she said.

“Westwind has applied to amend the permit and the minister has approved the amendment based on application plans dated April 12, 2021.”

Ms Tannock said the minister’s decision to approve 215 turbines, using the April 2021 information, was not assessed by a planning panel to determine the impact of noise and to local fauna such as the endangered southern brolga.

Wind farm objector Hamish Cumming. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian

Ms Tannock said the minister’s environmental assessment of the project in 2018 said it should be reduced from 228 to 181 turbines.

Earlier this year, Westwind said its application for 215 turbines was backed by “extensive detailed surveys of flora and fauna.”

Ms Tannock called for those reports and the turbine configuration map to be released publicly.

“This is a completely different configuration (of turbines) it needs to be reassessed,” she said.

“They’ve respected the brolga buffer, (but now) you’ve got bigger turbines into a limited space. It is more densely configured.

“There must be a further inquiry and that’s the proper process.”

A government spokeswoman said the project did not have to go back to a planning panel.

“Like all applications to amend a planning permit, the application to amend the Golden Plains Wind Farm was considered on its merits and in line with relevant planning policy and legislation,” the spokeswoman said.

“The amendment application was not required to be referred to a planning panel, because it did not propose to increase the total number of turbines or increase the maximum height of a turbine allowed under the existing permit.”

The Rokewood wind farm will consist of turbines 230m above the ground with a blade rotating diameter of a 165m.

Earlier this year, Westwind said advancements in wind turbine technology meant turbines could now produce electricity across a wider range of wind speeds.

“Increasing the allowable rotor diameter from 150m to 165m will allow the project to produce more electricity with fewer turbines,” it said.

Mr Cumming has fought the project for three years through the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.

At one point, he faced a legal bill of about $500,000 but has maintained he has data showing buffer zones of at least 5km are needed around areas where brolgas flock and breed near wind farms.

Originally published as Objector says Golden Plains wind farm planning did not follow proper process