By NOEL MURPHY
A $2 BILLION wind farm aimed at powering the Geelong region appears set for a legal fight as objectors demand a halt to feasibility investigations.
The 200-turbine TasWind project, which the Tasmanian Government’s Hydro Tasmania has proposed for King Island, would be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere but has hit a hurdle before leaving the drawing board.
Objectors have lashed at out Hydro Tasmania’s decision to push ahead with a feasibility study after garnering 59 per cent for the project in a community survey despite earlier indicating it would not go ahead without 60 per cent backing.
The group is reportedly pursuing an injunction to stop Hydro Tasmania proceeding further with the project.
Hydro Tasmania’s Andrew Catchpole said some people had “implied” 60 per cent was the figure needed to determine whether the project proceeded.
“However, we have always said that 60 cent would be a good indication of broad community support. We got 59 per cent and that is a very good result.”
No TasWind Farm Group insisted “near enough is not good enough”.
“Sixty is 60, not 58.77. How can King Islanders ever trust Hydro Tasmania again?” group chairman Jim Benn said.
“This whole debacle has unnecessarily divided our small community.”
The wind farm would generate 600 megawatts of green power, transmitted by underwater cable to Geelong. The plant could power 250,000 houses and create 500 jobs during a two-year construction phase.
King Island farmers anticipate flow-on benefits from port infrastructure improvements related to the project as well as a rental windfall for hosting the turbines.
But No TasWind has argued the project threatens health, land values and birdlife including the endangered orange-bellied parrot.
Hydro Tasmania said it understood the principal community concern was the visual impact of the wind farm, closely followed by noise and health impacts.
“Consequently, we will focus as a matter of priority on resolving the elements of wind farm feasibility that have the most impact on these concerns, especially location, so that we can address these areas of concern,” Mr Catchpole said.
