Milyeannup wind farm

Verve Energy is investigating the feasibility of building a wind farm with up to 30 wind turbines with a combined capacity of up to 55MW at Milyeannup, which is about 20kms east of Augusta.

Verve Energy has a well-earned reputation for successfully planning and building wind energy projects with a strong emphasis on quality community consultation. Successful projects include wind farms at Albany, Esperance and Kalbarri.

Verve Energy has been collecting data on the south coast wind resource since the early 1990s and at the Milyeannup site since 2003.

The Milyeannup Wind Farm site was chosen primarily because it has good road access, proximity to a high voltage transmission line (the Beenup line), and a reasonable wind resource. Locations such as this are becoming hard to find in Western Australia, which limits the amount of wind energy that is economical to harness.

The output of the wind farm would be enough to supply about 26,000 households, or the combined household electricity use in the surrounding Shires south of Bunbury and west of Walpole.

Discussions have been had with the private land owners involved and consultation has been carried out with the Shires of Nannup and Augusta-Margaret River and other approval agencies.

A feasibility study currently underway is due to be completed in early 2010. It is assessing the social, environmental, technical and financial aspects of the project. It includes a range of environmental studies, such as on birds, flora, fauna and visual amenity; community consultation; tenders for project equipment and construction, and applications for approvals through the various agencies required.

DEWHA referral

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has referred the Milyeannup Wind Farm for public comment. See right-hand panel for information related to this referral.

The public comment period will close on the 10 March 2010.

If the proposal has no significant environmental issues, is supported by the landowners and the local community, has obtained all the approvals necessary and is found to be commercially viable, then it is likely that it would be built by Verve Energy. On current timing, this could occur around mid to late 2011.

The proposed wind farm will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by about 160,000 tonnes a year. The proposed site, at the end of the Milyeannup Coast Road, is on private land.

A detailed community consultation process including displays, regular newsletters and briefings to various stakeholder groups is being undertaken as part of the study.

More information can be downloaded below:

Newsletter #1 (44kb)
Newsletter #2 (39kb)
Questions and Answers (99kb)
Fact Sheet (42kb)
Computer generated image from Augusta Hotel