Renewables: 11 new wind farm proposals earmarked for Wimmera-Mallee

Farming communities are being torn apart in the Wimmera-Mallee over renewable energy projects, with 11 wind farm proposals. See where they are.

A “free-for-all” surge in wind farm proposals on prime Wimmera-Mallee agricultural land is putting generational farming neighbours on a collision course.

Analysis by The Weekly Times shows 11 wind farm proposals are in the planning phase, adding to eight already in existence.

The largest proposal, the Warracknabeal Energy Park with 230 wind turbines on 25,000ha of land, came to light in 2023.

But more renewables proposals have coincided with confirmation of the route for a high voltage transmission line, VNI West, in late October last year.

Mallee Windfarms weekly times digi graphic

Another catalyst was the mid-2024 move from the Victorian government’s renewable energy planner, VicGrid, that western Victoria would be the state’s priority development area.

Turbines at the Wilkur Energy Park near Birchip are proposed to be 280m, which is only 20m short of Melbourne’s Eureka Tower.

Birchip farmer Andrew Lee said renewables had divided the community.

“Our community is a great community, but it is well and truly divided between the hosts and non-hosts,” he said.

“The proposed Curyo wind farm is on land that is as good as we’ve got in this area.

“It seems crazy we’re going to put turbines on it.”

The proliferation of wind farm proposals comes on top of solar and mineral sands mining projects.

VFF president Brett Hosking at his farm near Quambatook in the Mallee that is seeing a spike in wind farm proposals.Picture: Rob Leeson.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking, a farmer at Quambatook, is observing “immense division among what have always been very connected and very resilient communities”.

“It’s not being done openly and transparently and with the best interests of communities in mind,” he said.

“It’s also causing an enormous amount of well-being pressure on landholders and community members alike.

“There is no question we need to move away from the burning of fossil fuels.

“But the the government has let the entire community down by not planning this well and facilitating a free-for-all.”

The increased activity is taking place in the Mallee electorate, held by Nationals’ MP Anne Webster, who said: “I’ve never seen my community as divided as they are now”.

“It’s a huge concern when you’ve got family members, generational farmers, who no longer talk to each other,” she said.

Farmers are being tempted by reports of $40,000 per annum, per turbine on their land.

But others are baulking because of the need for government subsidies to make them viable and potential liability for costly decommissioning.

Further cause for angst was the Victorian government’s decision last year to fast-track renewable projects by removing third-party appeals.

Mallee MP, Nationals' Anne Webster. Picture: supplied.

“It disgusts me that they are coming for arable agricultural land,” Dr Webster said.

“It hinders the actual productivity of farmers on land because it limits and restricts their ability to use drones, large harvesters, planes for seeding and sowing.

“What is going to happen to our food security in the future if all this land is threatened?”

But the Victorian government defended its new stance.

“We established VicGrid to co-ordinate renewable energy planning, ensuring we build the right infrastructure in the right place, include local communities early in the planning process, and protect our energy, food and water security,” a spokeswoman said.

“We’re also creating funds for communities that host renewable energy zones so they can share in the benefits.”

THE NEW WIND FARM PROPOSALS IN WESTERN VICTORIA

CURYO (South of Woomelang)

Turbines: 162

Site area: Not disclosed

CAMPBELL’S BRIDGE (Northwest of Stawell)

Turbines: 145

Site area: 14,000ha

WILKUR (Southwest of Birchip)

Turbines: 97

Site area: 10,554ha

WARRACKNABEAL

Turbines: 230

Site area: 25,000ha

BERRIMAL (Between St Arnaud and Wedderburn)

Turbines: 16

Site area: Not disclosed

WIMMERA PLAINS (Northeast of Horsham)

Turbines: 52

Site area: Not disclosed

WATTA WELLA (Northeast of Stawell)

Turbines: 45

Site area: 4850ha

WOMBELANO (Southwest of Horsham)

Turbines: Not disclosed (35MW output potential)

Site area: Not disclosed

CANNIE (Near Kerang)

Turbines: 174

Site area: 17,000ha

NORMANVILLE (Near Kerang)

Turbines: 17

Site area: 1933ha

CORACK EAST (Southwest of Wycheproof)

Turbines: Not disclosed

Site area: Not disclosed