Horsham Rural City Council says the Victorian Government’s approval of the Warracknabeal Energy Park reinforces the need for investment in infrastructure and services to support the growing number of major projects across the Wimmera.
Located in Yarriambiack Shire, the proposed project would include up to 219 wind turbines and have an installed capacity of approximately 1,575 megawatts.
The project also proposes new transmission infrastructure connecting into the Murra Warra terminal station, near the existing Horsham to Red Cliffs high-voltage transmission line.
Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Brian Klowss said the announcement highlighted the importance of planning for the cumulative impacts of major developments occurring across the region.
“The key issues we have consistently raised relate to housing, workforce availability and roads. These pressures are already being felt across our region and will be compounded by the number of major projects occurring at the same time.”
Accommodation and construction traffic have been identified through the project’s Victorian environmental assessment process among issues raised in relation to the development.
Cr Klowss said major projects presented significant opportunities for the Wimmera, but investment in the region needed to keep pace with development.
“Major projects bring significant opportunities for our region, but we need to make sure the infrastructure and services that support our communities can keep pace.”
“We will continue advocating for the investment needed to support our communities and ensure regional areas are not left carrying the impacts without receiving the infrastructure and support required to manage them.”
The Warracknabeal Energy Park developer estimates the project will take four to five years to construct and generate enough electricity to power approximately 1.2 million Victorian homes. Victorian Government planning information also identifies an anticipated four-to-five-year construction period.
Cr Klowss said Council wanted governments, industry and regional communities to look at the cumulative implications of major investment across the Wimmera.
“This is bigger than any single project. We need to be looking collectively at what this level of development means for housing, workforce, roads and regional infrastructure across the Wimmera.”
