Frequently Asked Questions Waubra Wind Farm
What sort of environment is the Waubra Wind Farm located in?
The Waubra Wind Farm site is located primarily on cleared agricultural land used for potato farming and sheep and cattle grazing.
The project site is a series of hills and high plateaus which form part of the Great Dividing Range. The turbines will mostly be located on the rounded hills where there is little or no vegetation.
There are two granite mountains in the area called Mt Misery and Mt Ercildoune. These peaks are of regional significance as they are prominent landscape features and in contrast to the surrounding hills, indigenous vegetation is still present. Based on community feedback the wind farm design does not include turbines on these mountains.
Will trees or native vegetation need to be removed?
Native vegetation only occurs in a very limited number of places at the Waubra Wind Farm site. A study of vegetation on the site showed that the majority of the study area was devoid of native vegetation. However, some areas were identified where potential impact could occur and as a result, removal or disturbances of these areas have been avoided in the wind farm design and construction activities.
The layout of the wind farm ensures that the principles of “Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A framework for Action” are implemented. All turbines and associated access tracks and other infrastructure have been located in a manner that avoids possible effects on native vegetation and wildlife.
Where possible effects can not be avoided, measures are taken to offset any removal with the planting of native trees. Acciona Energy is working together with the Department of Sustainability and Environment to determine the best ways to offset any unavoidable loss of native vegetation. One way to offset vegetation loss is to plant new native vegetation close to the location where it has been removed.
Will the wind turbines impact birds?
While wind turbines, like many tall man-made structures, present a collision risk to birds and bats, to date, no rare, threatened or endangered species have been killed as a result of Wind turbines in Victoria (Wind Energy -The Myths and the Facts- Sustainability Victoria 2006).
Research in Denmark and the United States has found that the impact on birds and bats from wind farms is relatively minor compared to other impacts such as traffic, buildings and domestic cats.
Bird and bat studies at the Waubra site have found that the risk to birds and bats is considered to be very low. The site is predominantly land used for agriculture and surveys identified the site is home to common farmland birds.
To ensure that any impacts on birds and bats is minimal, monitoring will be undertaken for the first two years of operation, with further studies and related management and mitigation plans to be implemented, if necessary.
Will the turbines frighten cows and other animals?
Wind turbines do not have any noticeable impact on livestock. Animals such as cattle and sheep habitually graze around the wind turbines undisturbed.
Cows grazing under a turbine
A detailed assessment of the potential impacts of noise from the Waubra Wind Farm has been undertaken by specialist noise consultants, as required by the planning permit conditions.
The Victorian Government Standard requires that noise levels at residential dwellings should not exceed the background noise level by more than 5dBA or a level of 40dBA, whichever is greater. The Waubra Wind Farm must meet this standard.
Post construction, Acciona Energy will undertake a noise monitoring program to ensure that noise levels comply with the planning permit conditions.
Holding a conversation at the base of a turbine
What about the visual impact of the turbines?
People’s perception of the visual impact of wind turbines can vary greatly. Some people find the prospect of direct views to be pleasing, while others do not like the look of the turbines in the landscape.
Visual impact can be reduced somewhat by turbines being off white in colour (research shows meteorological conditions produce mostly cloudy days) and with carefully chosen plantings to screen local views.
At the Waubra Wind Farm site measures have been undertaken to reduce the visual impact, such as sensitive siting of turbines and landscaping of related infrastructure.
As part of the planning permit conditions, a detailed Landscaping and Visual Screening Plan has been prepared to provide landscaping or visual screening to reduce the visual impact of the wind turbines and the substations associated with the wind farm.
Specific landscaping plans include planting a mix of trees and shrubs to mitigate the views from nearby properties to the wind turbines and substations. These plans were developed in consultation with nearby landowners, Council, and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
What will happen when the wind farm reaches the end of its life?
The Waubra Wind Farm is expected to have a base life of approximately 25 years.
After this time, the site will be reviewed and assessed to determine whether the wind farm may be upgraded with the latest turbine technology or otherwise decommissioned through a phased approach – dismantling the above ground equipment and then removing it from the site, and rehabilitating the site.
When a wind farm is decommissioned, the site can be returned to essentially the same state as it was before the wind farm was built.
