News

A state-based Regional Development Assessment Panel (RDAP) has decided in favour of planning approvals for Synergy RED’s Scott River Wind Farm, to be located approximately 15km north-east of Augusta in the South West region of Western Australia.

The project was recommended for approval despite 405 objections to the proposal from a total of 567 submissions received; 40% of them submitted from Augusta residents.

The RDAP report said there was “strong opposition from the closest and most affected residents in the suburbs of Scott River, Nillup, Courtenay, Warner Glen and Alexandra Bridge”.

RDAP approval will mean the project has received all required planning and environmental approvals from relevant federal, state and council agencies only six months since applications were submitted to the Shire of Augusta – Margaret River and the state’s Environmental Protection Agency.

The project has attracted local, organised community opposition as hinted at by the nearly 4500 DAP meeting agenda item covering the Scott River Wind Farm recommendation.

The fact that a division of the state-controlled gentailer Synergy is the project’s lead developer has also stirred some controversy.

The Scott River Wind Farm project will include up to 20 wind turbines generating up to 100 MW, meteorological masts and communication towers, an operation and maintenance building, a substation and transmission infrastructure and other supporting infrastructure.

It is planned for the wind farm sub-station to connect into the SWIS via the existing 132kV Beenup to Manjimup transmission line.

The proposal would include a total disturbance area of 107ha, including clearing of no more than 1 ha of remnant native vegetation, within a 3597ha development envelope.

The panel’s decision will be tabled at the next relevant RDAP meeting to be held in Margaret River on 30 April.