Friends of the Earth welcomes the Supreme Court's decision that the Delburn wind farm is valid and can go ahead. The Delburn wind farm will be the first wind farm in the Latrobe Valley, it will also be the first wind farm built in a plantation in Australia.
Building a wind farm in a plantation site is an effective way to protect the natural environment as the plantation is already a highly modified industrial site. Hopefully the court's decision today puts the false claims about this project to rest.
"Our energy system is changing, the Latrobe Valley has a proud history of energy production and it is great to see that the Valley will continue to play a part in Victoria's energy production" said Wendy Farmer, Community Organiser, Friends of the Earth Melbourne.
The project will deliver Approximately 186 direct and indirect jobs during the two-year construction period and approximately 24 direct and indirect new, on-going jobs during the 30-year operating life of the project.
OSMI, the developers of the wind farm, will invest approximately $600,00 per annum directly to the local community through neighbourhood and community programs as well as making a payment of approximately $400,000 to local council in lieu of rates.
'The wind farm will change the Latrobe Valley landscape. As we look across from the old Hazelwood power station site and, to the south, the Yallourn power station now to the emerging wind farm, we are witnessing the energy transformation as it happens' continued Wendy.
"We have campaigned for many years in support of the wind farm. We welcome the court's decision to validate the planning permit and are looking forward to seeing the wind farm constructed' said Trevor Hore, of local resident's group Strzelecki Sustainable Futures.
Friends of the Earth will continue to keep a keen eye on this project as it is developed.
