Approvals Process

Initial development of the project was undertaken by WestWind Energy.

Moorabool Wind Farm obtained a Planning Permit in October 2010 under the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The Planning Permit lists a set of conditions that must be complied with in undertaking the development. The conditions cover construction, operation, decommissioning, administrative and community relationship matters.

Amendments to the planning permit were granted on the 18th February 2016, on the 19th March 2018 and on the 1 April 2020.

An extension to the planning permit was granted on the 24th November 2015. The permit will now expire if the development is not completed by the 29th October 2023.

In September 2016, Goldwind acquired the Moorabool Wind Farm from WestWind Energy.

Development Plans for Moorabool North were endorsed by the Minister for Planning in September 2017 prior to works commencing on site.

The Minister for Planning approved an increase in turbine tip height for both stages of the project in 2017 and 2018. The consent letters can be accessed in the two links below.

Tip Height Increase Consent, September 2017.

Tip Height Increase Consent, Stage 2, March 2018.

Development Plans for Moorabool South were endorsed by the Minister for Planning in April 2018.

Construction began in July 2018.

 

EPBC Approvals

The Project was also considered under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

A referral was lodged with the Federal Government and the project was declared as Not a Controlled Action if undertaken in a particular manner to avoid an impact on matters of national environmental significance.

Therefore, no further approval was required under the EPBC Act.