General News
8 December, 2022
RE Future to challenge decision at VCAT
MUMBLIN Wind Farm proponents RE Future has announced the company will be taking Corangamite Shire Council to VCAT over a recent planning decision.
MUMBLIN Wind Farm proponents RE Future has announced the company will be taking Corangamite Shire Council to VCAT over a recent planning decision.
At the October Ordinary Meeting of Council, councillors voted to approve a planning application from a neighbouring property of the proposed wind farm to build workers accommodation on the boundary fence.
In an open letter to the community, RE Future managing director David Shapero said he believes it was important to clarify the company’s ongoing position in relation to a recent decision by Corangamite Shire Council to grant the permit.
“The Mumblin Wind Farm will consist of nine wind turbine generators with a combine capacity of approximately 54 MW and will be located on Curdies – Leichfield Road in Ecklin South, Victoria,” he said.
“A planning application for the proposed wind farm has been lodged for this project with the Minister for Planning, in accordance with the requirements of the Corangamite Planning Scheme
“On October 25 this year, the Corangamite Shire Council voted to grant a permit for farmworker accommodation on land adjoining the proposed wind farm.
“The location of the farmworker accommodation is as close as possible to the boundary of the wind farm.”
Mr Shapero said last year the Victorian Government introduced an amendment to all Victorian planning schemes which, in effect, made it necessary for councils, when assessing such applications, to consider the potential effects of proposed wind farms on proposed farmworker accommodation prior to issuing a permit.
“RE Future has previously stated that it has no objection to neighbours of any of its wind farm projects building farmworker accommodation in the vicinity of our projects. This remains our position,” he said.
“However, given that the farmworker accommodation has been placed as close as possible to the wind farm, RE Future made a submission to council requesting it to take into consideration the effect, if any, the wind farm could have on the farmworker accommodation, and to have that situation formally acknowledged.
“Additionally, RE Future offered to adjust the position of wind turbines and to cover the cost of a slight movement of the proposed accommodation to ensure a one kilometre separation from the house.”
Mr Shapero said RE Future believes the decision of the Corangamite Shire Council to grant a permit against the advice of the council’s planning department, without imposing any compromise
relocation and without ensuring there is acknowledgement and “acceptance of the close proximity of proposed turbines is contrary to orderly land use planning and in no-one’s interest”.
“The decision to grant the permit has created ongoing uncertainty well into the future for both the proponent of the farmworker accommodation and the proponent of the wind farm,” he said.
“In order to resolve the uncertainty that the council’s decision has created, RE Future has decided to apply to VCAT to have the decision reviewed.
“RE Future will continue to look for a workable compromise in good faith so that there can be certainty for the neighbouring farmworker accommodation, and for the potential wind farm.”