Windfarm environment report leaked

Posted 2 hours 31 minutes ago Updated 36 minutes ago

The windfarm proponents say the project was uneconomical (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
Audio: Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden on 774 ABC Melbourne (ABC News)
Map: Wonthaggi 3995
Related Story: Windfarm application withdrawn
The ABC has been leaked a copy of the final report into the environmental effects of the proposed Dollar Windfarm in South Gippsland.
The Victorian Government is refusing to release the report, because the proponent AGL decided not to go ahead with the project.
The report shows an independent panel recommended four of the 48 turbines be moved, and there were no other visual or noise problems.
It concluded the project should go ahead to advance the Government's policy on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction.
Victorian Planning Minister Justin Madden says the document is no longer relevant.
"The project was not going ahead so there was no point in having a document out there that speculated on a project that was never going to exist," he said.
AGL general manager Geoff Dimry says the windfarm would not have been commercially viable.
He says the project was scrapped after analysis of wind speeds, power grid connection costs, the cost of turbines and labor.
"Then there's the revenue side of things, and whilst the Victorian Government was proactive in announcing the Victorian renewable energy target, even taking that into consideration, this was not an optimal site to build a windfarm," he said.
Tags: environment, alternative-energy, wind-energy, australia, vic, wonthaggi-3995