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- Gunning Wind Farm
The Gunning Wind Farm has an electrical substation, access tracks to each turbine, an operation and maintenance facility and 17.4km of underground cabling. A 14km 132kV transmission line was also constructed to connect the wind farm to the existing Yass-Goulburn transmission line.
The turbines are located on the privately owned property Walwa, which is predominantly cleared pastoral land. The wind farm site continues to be used for grazing.
ACCIONA Energy is committed to engaging with the local community surrounding the Gunning Wind Farm. We also acknowledge the importance and value of feedback (including both enquiries and complaints). We can be contacted via our free call community information hotline 1800 283 550.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES ON 000
ACCIONA is committed to improving the social and economic platform of the region and sharing the benefits of the project as widely and equitably as possible to deliver fair outcomes.
The Gunning Wind Farm Shared Benefits Program will comprise several components:
Community Benefit Fund
The Community Benefit Fund supports services, events and projects which directly benefit the communities in the vicinity of the Gunning Wind Farm. Through this program ACCIONA Energy aims to foster positive partnerships with the local community. The Community Benefit Fund is supported by the Gunning Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Advisory Group. The Group has been formed to:
Projects which the Community Benefit Fund may support may include community events, improving community facilities, sporting events, disaster relief and arts and cultural initiatives or other projects that benefit the local community.
Small Grants / Sponsorship Program
Each year community organisations and not for profit groups will have the opportunity to apply for small grants through an application process. $10,000 per annum will be available to support eligible community projects and events that meet ACCIONA’s eligibility requirements. Applications are now open for the 2019 program. To apply, click on the Application Form.
Education / Scholarship Program
Each year a scholarship of up to $5,000 will be awarded to a student enrolled to undertake study that will benefit the communities in which they live. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, students must reside in the Upper Lachlan Shire area, and be enrolled to undertake further studies at TAFE or University. Selection of the successful candidate will be made according to academic merit, financial need and by addressing the required selection criteria.
Preference will be given to those studying engineering, science, renewable energy or agricultural based courses.
Applications for 2019 are now open. Closing date is – 28 February 2019.
To apply – click on the Scholarship Application Form
ACCIONA keeps the community informed of activities via our newsletters. To read our recent newsletter - click here.
Transmission line.
A new 132kV transmission line has been constructed to connect the wind farm to the existing 132kV Yass-Goulburn transmission line. Electricity is generated from turbines at 12kV and is then stepped up at a substation to 132kV to match the existing Yass-Goulburn voltage before connection can be made to the grid.
Cultural heritage.
Since construction of the Gunning Wind Farm was approved in 2004, ACCIONA Energy has undertaken additional cultural heritage surveys of the site. Potentially significant sites were identified and were sub surface tested. Ten artefacts were identified. The transmission line was also surveyed. All artefacts were identified artefacts were salvaged and relocated in accordance with the Aboriginal Affairs Guidelines. No heritage sites were impacted by the wind farm.
The Gunning Pollution Incident Response Management Plan (PIRMP) outlines the incident response and notification process in the event of a pollution incident at Gunning Wind Farm. It has been prepared in accordance with the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) Act and Regulations.
Mt Gellibrand Wind Farm is located 25 kilometres east of Colac and 17km west of Winchelsea in the Colac Otway Shire on Victoria’s Western Plains. The wind farm has been constructed around the southern and western sides of Mt Gellibrand itself. These open and partly elevated plains make the site an ideal location for a wind farm.
The site covers an area of about 29km², with a coastal exposure of nearly 11 kilometres. The Wind Farm consists of 33 two-megawatt wind turbines – generating enough green electricity to supply 35,000 homes every year.
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