Press Release - Draft Turbine Layout
10 October 2024
The Pines Wind Farm to release draft wind turbine layout for discussion next week
In May 2024, Forestry Corporation of NSW granted TagEnergy an InvestigationsPermit to explore the feasibility of The Pines Wind Farm in parts of the State’s softwood plantations in Gurnang, Mt David and Vulcan State forests (the InvestigationArea).
Since June this year The Pines Wind Farm team has been meeting community members through face-to-face meetings and at community events in Black Springs, Burraga, and Oberon. The purpose of this engagement has been to investigate the feasibility of the project, share information with the community, and to provide an opportunity for feedback and concerns from the community to be heard.
The Pines Wind Farm team are finalising the first draft wind turbine layout for discussion. The goal is to publish this next week ahead of the planned October drop-in sessions with the community. The layout will show approximately 250 wind turbines (2,000 MW) within the State’s softwood plantations covered by the Investigations Permit. This is equivalent to the power generated from approximately 5 million solar panels and could power the equivalent of 1.25 million NSW homes.
The draft layout will evolve as the design progresses and will be influenced by detailed studies (for example trafficand transport routes, fire risk management, grid studies, visual impact, noise,ecology, heritage, constructability, wind resource, etc) and further discussions with the community.
The Pines Wind farm team will also continue engaging with neighbouring landholders, many of whom have expressed interest in hosting wind farm infrastructure, including turbines. This may result in the project growing over time.
The final size of the project will be determined by discussions and agreements with neighbouring landowners, the capacity of the existing transmission line, the outcomes of studies, as well as feedback from neighbours, potential wind turbine hosts and the community.
The wind farm project is still subject to the outcome of a rigorous planning process managed by the Departmentof Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure.
The Pines Wind Farm team will be holding Community Drop-in Sessions to present and discuss the draft turbine layout on the following dates:
· Oberon Library and Community Centre, Thursday 17 October, 2-6pm
· Black Springs Community Hall, Saturday 19 October, 10am-2pm
· Burraga Community Hall, Tuesday 22 October,6-9pm
The Pines Wind Farm team are also meeting people at their homes, and using augmented reality to show neighbours, potential hosts, and other interested parties a visualisation of the proposed turbines from their properties.
The project will deliver direct benefits to landowners who wish to host turbines and other project infrastructure, and to neighbouring residences who would be eligible for Neighbour Benefit Program payments.
The Pines Wind Farm will deliver significant economic benefits to the broader community via a Community Benefit Fund and other financial support.
The early sponsorship program will continue to deliver $50,000 each year in benefits to the community in addition to the Electricity Bill Credit program which is on track to deliver $30,000 in electricity bill credits in its first twelve months, with potential for $20million in electricity bill reductions over the life of the project.
A project of this size will see thecommunity share in almost $200 million in direct benefits including:
- Neighbour benefit payments,
- Community Benefit program payments, and
- Discounted electricity credits.
A project of this size will power almost 1.25 million NSW homes and would reduce carbon emissions by 4 million tonnes per annum, nearly 3% of Australia’s total electricity emissions.
Media Contact:
Matthew Parton,
Director, Stromlo Energy
matthew.parton@thepineswindfarm.com.au