A plan to build Australia’s largest wind farm on tiny King Island in Bass Strait is a step closer to reality after the developer claimed there was broad community support for the project.
A survey testing local community’s support for the project found 58.77 per cent backing – narrowly short of the 60 per cent benchmark set by developer Hydro Tasmania for it to commit to a multimillion dollar feasibility study into the proposed 200 turbine farm, which would cover much of the island.
But the company decided it was enough to go ahead.
“We have always said that 60 per cent would be a good indication of broad community support,” Hydro Tasmania director Andrew Catchpole said. “We got 59 per cent and that is a very good result.”
Mr Catchpole said hydro board unanimously believed it should proceed with a feasibility study into the $2 billion project, but in a careful manner that was sensitive to the concerns of the community.
The study is expected to take two years to complete. It will decide the location of the turbines and provide a full environmental impact assessment of a project, which is expected to come on line in 2019.
King Island has a world class wind resource, according to the Hydro, but the 200 turbines would be spread across farm land, and near coasts used by threatened bird species.
A group of businessmen and farmers on the island engaged Sydney PR firm Wells Haslem to oppose the project.
The No Taswind Farm Group said the project would destroy the island’s unique character, devastating land values and health, and a decision to go to a feasibility study would stall other investment.
The group’s chairman, Jim Benn, said Hydro Tasmania must abandon the study after failing to secure 60 per cent of support from the island community.
Wind power backers from the group Yes 2 Renewables said the project would strengthen the economy, and give the community a chance to add to its existing exports such as beef and cheese.
“On King Island, the anti-wind campaign has once again shown that it’s prepared to scare communities with unfounded claims of a ‘wind farm noise disease’,” said yes 2 Renewables spokesman Leigh Ewbank.
