WAEP EES - 19 August 2025

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 19 August 2025

Media contact: admin@wmeap.com

WARRACKNABEAL ENERGY PARK EES

The Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for WestWind Energy’s Wind energy project 5km west of Warracknabeal and Brim has been released by the State Government.

This statement of many, many hundreds of pages sets out all the information that WestWind Energy has provided to the Government for the development of this project.

The EES covers not only the environmental impacts but the social, land use, visual, ecological, cultural heritage, amenity and construction impacts.

The project will comprise of two sections, north of Warracknabeal to North of Brim and south of Warracknabeal to approximately adjacent to the airport. A total of 64,250 acres.

There will be 219 wind turbines, each consisting of foundations, hardstands, tower, nacelle, hub and three blades reaching a maximum height of 280 m above ground, just short of the height of the Eureka Tower in Melbourne. Underground and overhead 33kV electrical cableing connecting turbines to one of the two collector stations located in each section of the project and overhead, high-voltage transmission connecting the project to the network.

There will be two Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), one at each collector station, permanent and temporary infrastructure, access tracks, transmission and grid connection infrastructure and concrete batching plants and site storage areas.

This is not just a few windmills in a paddock. This is major industrial infrastructure in our rural community. This will change our community, skyline and living conditions forever.

The cumulative impacts of so many wind projects on our unique Australian wildlife and habitat cannot be understated. Also the impacts on our clean and safe food production of 60kg of blade shedding per turbine per year on crops and animals grown underneath and nearby.

The construction phase of four to five years, will cause congestion, noise and destruction of our already damaged and dangerous roads, that council will not be able to keep up with. There will be itinerant workers from elsewhere, often overseas, filling all available temporary accommodation and adding nothing to the community.

Then when they have all gone, there will be very few jobs on site. These projects are generally managed by controllers off site or even overseas. In other wind projects, the only permanent onsite job is the person who picks up the dead birds and bats.

All we will be left with is noise, flicker, wrecked roads, decimated wildlife and a steadily declining population.

The Government has given us 30 business days to respond to the EES. Please contact WestWind Energy for a copy and tell the government what you think about this project or online to warracknabealenergypark.com.au. This is your last chance to make a difference.

The next meeting of Wimmera Mallee Environmental & Agricultural Protection Association will be held on Monday August 25th at the Warracknabeal Community Centre, 7pm.

-ENDS-