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Overview
The Willatook Wind Farm is a proposed wind farm and battery storage facility, owned by Wind Prospect. The Project is located in the Moyne Shire in south-western Victoria, about 20km north of Port Fairy, with neighbouring townships of Orford, Hawkesdale, Macarthur and Koroit.
The project site consists of undulating plains covering more than 4,000 hectares used primarily for sheep and cattle grazing. Native vegetation within the project site is mostly restricted to scattered fragments along roadside reserves and watercourses.
The project is intended to be located within the South West Renewable Energy Zone established by the Victorian State Government. This renewable zone is centred on the existing Moorabool to Heywood 500 kilovolt transmission line, which passes through the project site.
Wind Prospect has prepared the Environment Effects Statement (EES) and planning permit applications for the project. These were placed on public exhibition in July and the Minister’s Assessment on the environmental effects of the Willatook Wind Energy Facility is now complete. The Minister’s Assessment and the report of the Inquiry and Panel (IAP) can be found on the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) website at: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/environmental-assessments/browse-projects/willatook-wind-farm
ENGIE is interested in the Willatook Wind Farm and is supporting Wind Prospect to progress the project to the next stages of development, with a view to acquiring the project. The project aligns with ENGIE’s global strategy of accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Should ENGIE acquire the Willatook Wind Farm, it would add up to 350MW of renewable energy capacity to our Australian portfolio.
Key Figures
- Up to 59 wind turbines, each with a maximum blade height of 250 metres
- Nominal capacity of 350 MW supplying more than 1,300 GWh of renewable energy per year
- A battery energy storage system of 200MW/400MWh
- The project is located close to the 500kV Heywood- Moorabool transmission line and the existing Tarrone Terminal Station.
Community Benefits
- Estimated $800m capital expenditure with $120m retained within the region through wages, contracts and other services.
- Ongoing economic stimulus predicted at $158 million over the 25-year life of the project, through Council rates, landowner and neighbour payments, local wages and community sponsorship programs.
- Up to 180 direct and 290 indirect full time jobs during construction and 12 direct and 35 indirect jobs ongoing throughout the 25 years of operation.
- Neighbour Benefit Sharing Program to ensure financial benefits are shared with those closest to the project, with all neighbours within 6km eligible for financial support once the project is approved and construction commences.
- Community Benefit Fund of up to $59,000 per year (based on $1,000 per turbine) would be established.
- Upgrades to local roads and intersections, as required for the delivery, installation and maintenance of turbine components and other associated materials and structures.
Community Engagement
Wind Prospect are the owners of the Willatook Wind Farm and continue to engage with local community members and stakeholders. To get in touch with the Wind Prospect team, call 1800 934 313 or email: [email protected]
Contact us
To get in touch with the Wind Prospect team,
Call: 1800 934 313
Email: [email protected]
Your feedback
Our community and stakeholders provide valuable feedback that helps shape our work. We appreciate hearing from you on what we are doing well and where we haven’t met the mark, so that we can take ownership and improve.
Our Community & Stakeholder Feedback Framework details our approach to feedback and how we manage complaints.
FAQs
1. What feedback can I provide?
You can provide feedback about ENGIE operational assets and our asset development projects. If your feedback relates to other ENGIE activities, including our retail and residential energy solutions, please visit our contact us page.
At ENGIE Renewables Development, we define feedback as any communication we receive from you. Types of feedback include:
| Comments, which can be either positive or negative but do not require further action. | |
| Enquiries, which are neither positive nor negative but require further action. | |
| Complaints, which are negative and typically require a response or resolution. |
2. How can I provide feedback?
You can provide feedback by:
- sending an email to [email protected]
- calling our dedicated projects phone line on 1800 845 067 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- talking to us in person
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service to provide your feedback. If English is not your first language, you may use the National Translating and Interpreting Service. We accept feedback from other people on your behalf.
3. How will my feedback be dealt with?
All feedback will be recorded and dealt with according to our five guiding principles:
- Fairness: You will be treated fairly. If your feedback is negative and handled as a complaint, our actions and decisions will be respectful, impartial, and evidence-based.
- Transparency: Information about how to provide feedback is published on our website, with open and honest feedback sought.
- Accountability: We treat all feedback as an opportunity for continuous improvement.
- Accessibility: Feedback can be provided verbally over the phone or in person; or in writing by letter, email or online form.
- Responsiveness: If a response is required, we will reply courteously and within our stated timeframes, and we will keep you informed about the progress of a complaint.
4. How will my feedback, including complaints, be managed?
Feedback, including complaints, will be managed through our feedback process.
5. What if I am not happy with the outcome of my complaint?
If you believe your complaint isn’t adequately resolved, you can ask us to escalate the matter to a staff member at a higher level within our organisation, who will work with you to investigate further and find a solution.
If the complaint still isn’t resolved to your satisfaction, we suggest you contact the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner or your local ombudsman.
Phone: 1800 451 524
Phone: 1800 068 908
Phone: 1800 806 314
Phone: 1800 182 150
Phone: 1800 117 000
6. How is my personal information handled?
Personal information that identifies individuals will only be disclosed or used by ENGIE Renewables Development as permitted under the relevant privacy laws, secrecy provisions and any relevant confidentiality obligations.
The ENGIE ANZ Group’s Privacy Policy details our commitment to complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).