Victoria gives final state approval for biggest wind farm in southern hemisphere

The Victorian government has officially approved the Warracknabeal Energy Park, a 219-turbine wind farm located in the state's west, making it the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. The wind farm proposal, which spans 26,000 hectares of farmland just west of Warracknabeal and north of Horsham, now awaits final approval from the federal government. Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny signed off on the project five months after its environmental impact report was approved, fulfilling all state-based requirements.

The energy park is expected to generate 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy, enough to power 1.2 million homes, narrowly surpassing the Golden Plains Wind Farm in capacity. WestWind Energy, the developer, aims to create around 950 jobs during the construction phase. Local farmer Craig Henderson welcomed the project, emphasizing the positive impact it would have on the shrinking town of Warracknabeal, which had been facing economic challenges.

He highlighted the need for a diverse income for the rural area to sustain the community, stating that the wind farm could help attract more skilled staff for local farms and businesses. Despite some concerns raised by the community, such as visual amenity and impact on flora and fauna, the majority of submissions to the Environment Effects Statement process expressed support for the project due to its potential to improve living conditions and stimulate economic growth.