FAQs

General Questions

How do you choose a site for a potential wind farm?
A lot of work goes into finding the right site for a potential wind farm. There are many factors to consider, such as:

  • The availability of wind
  • Access to the electricity grid
  • Current land use
  • Environmental impacts

How much energy is in wind?
The energy content of wind is directly proportional to the swept area of the rotor, the air density and the cube of wind velocity. Simply put, if the wind speed doubles, the energy in the wind increases 8 times.
i.e. Power = [constant] x [air density] x [rotor swept area] x [wind velocity]^3


Modern wind turbines have been shown to convert approximately 40% of the kinetic energy in the wind into electrical energy. This is known as the “energy efficiency” of the wind turbine (not to be confused with the capacity factor).

Are wind farms noisy?
Modern wind turbines make relatively little noise. The level of sound can vary considerably depending on the shape of the land, the position of the listener and the speed of the wind. In most instances, it is possible to carry on a conversation at the base of a wind turbine without having to raise your voice.

What do they sound like?
The sound that a modern wind turbine produces is most commonly described as a cyclic whooshing or swishing sound.

Where will the development link into the grid? Where will the substation and control room be and where will the power lines go?
The size of the project will dictate how the project connects to the grid and where the substation and control room will be located. At this early stage of the proposal, the size of the project has not been finalised.
As a general guide, it is planned to connect to the Ballarat-Bendigo transmission line by way of a single pole power line.

Who owns the turbines?
The owner of the wind farm owns the turbines and is responsible for their safe operation and maintenance.

Who is liable for any damage caused by the development, such as a fire?
If the proposal proceeds, public liability insurance will cover the project.

What happens to the turbines at the end of the project?
The owner of the wind farm is responsible for removing the turbines at the end of their working life.

Do wind farms affect property values?
There is no evidence to suggest that rural land is devalued due to the existence of a wind farm. Unfortunately there has been no official study conducted. However, there have been numerous land sales next to wind farms in various parts of the country which have resulted in either getting the sought after price, or higher.

Do wind farms affect tourism?
Yes, some wind farms have had a positive effect on tourism. For example, Pacific Hydro’s Codrington Wind Farm in southwest Victoria, attracts 50,000 visitors each year through its successful tour operator business.

Do turbines cause fires?
In rural areas, electricity-related fires are most likely to result from damage to overhead power lines by falling branches. As all high-voltage connections for turbines around the site will be run underground, the risk of electricity-related fire is extremely low.
Each turbine is also fitted with a comprehensive lightning protection system that safely transfers any high voltages or currents directly to the earth without affecting turbine performance. However, any electrical facility has the potential to catch fire. The fire control methods for wind farms are the same as those used for all other high-voltage electrical assets.

Who receives financial payment for a wind farm project?
Landowners hosting turbines on their land as part of the wind farm project will receive an annual payment of approximately $7000 per turbine for the life of the wind farm.
The owner of the wind farm will also pay $500 per turbine, per year into a Community Fund. The Community Fund will be used to support a range of projects that directly benefit the local community.

I’m not hosting a turbine on my property. Will I be eligible for financial payment as an adjoining landowner?
Only landowners who have agreed to host turbines on their property as part of the wind farm project will receive a direct financial payment. The community in general will, however, benefit from the Community Fund.

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Community Fund Questions

What is the function of the Community Reference Group (CRG)?
The function of the CRG is to:

  • Assist in informing the community on the proposed wind farm
  • Provide feedback to Wind Power to guide the development of the proposed project
  • Provide advice to Wind Power on community projects or priorities that would benefit from the community fund
  • Provide advice on the most appropriate and effective methods for communication with the community

What sort of projects will benefit from the Community Fund?
The Community Fund will provide financial support to organisations and individuals that work to make a positive and lasting contribution to their community. Further details on the types of projects that will be eligible for funding will be determined through community consultation, the community reference group and ultimately be decided by the committee formed to administer the Community Fund.

Who decides which projects will receive funding from the Community Fund?
The committee administering the Community Fund, made up of local people who wish to be involved, will ultimately decide which projects will receive funding.

Is it possible for more than one project to benefit from the Community Fund?
Yes, it is possible that multiple projects will receive funding. The exact number of projects will depend on the size and scope of each individual project and may vary from year to year and be decided by the committee.

What is an example of a project that might benefit from the Community Fund?
Some examples of eligible projects may include, but are not limited to:

  • Recycled watering systems for community parks, gardens and sporting grounds
  • New playground equipment for the local school
  • Community centre upgrade
  • Local festivals and community events

How will funding applications be assessed?
The Community Fund assessment criteria will be developed by the committee established to administer the Community Fund. As stated above, the committee will be made up of interested and suitably qualified local people.

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Tuki Questions

What is the wind-speed at Tuki?
Monitoring and collecting wind-speed data is an integral part of the feasibility stage of wind farm development. To allow for seasonal variation, wind-speed data needs to be collected over a period of 12 months.
Wind Power has been monitoring the wind-speed at Tuki since the beginning of March 2007. It is anticipated that reliable data will be available by the end of February 2008.

What model of turbine will be used at the Tuki Wind Farm?
The exact model of turbine to be used will depend on the results of the environmental and amenity assessments and the number of participating landowners.

How high will the turbines be?
The height of a turbine is measured from the base of the turbine to the tip of the blades.
The exact height of the turbines will be dependent on the model used and the results of the environmental and amenity assessments.
The height will be between 110m and a maximum height of 144m.

How many turbines will there be? Where will they be located?
The exact number and location of turbines will be dependent on:

  • The environmental and amenity assessments
  • The number of participating landowners
  • The location of surrounding dwellings
  • Advice from the Department of Sustainability and
  • Environment on the placement of turbines within areas of significant landscape overlay.

When will the planning application be submitted?
Detailed environmental assessments and community consultation will need to be undertaken before any planning applications are lodged.
The outcomes from these assessments and consultations will dictate when a planning application is lodged.
The environmental assessments and consultations are expected to be completed by February 2008.
An estimated timeline of events is provided below. Please note that these dates are provided as a guide only and may be subject to change.

Timing Action
August 07 Ongoing community consultation
February 08 Environmental and amenity studies completed
March 08 Draft plan released for discussion
October 08 Planning application prepared
November 08 Planning application lodged with relevant authority

What was the outcome of the first CRG meeting at Tuki?
The key topics of discussion raised at the first CRG meeting were:

  • Communication
  • Details of the proposed project
  • The community fund
  • The planning application process
  • Project timeline

The majority of discussion was focused on the first two topics.
It was agreed that many of the community’s issues hinged on the exact number and location of the turbines with many members expressing concern about the proposed placement of turbines within areas of significant landscape overlays.
Wind Power will be seeking guidance from the Department of Sustainability and Environment about the significant landscape overlay issue and will keep the community informed of any developments.
It was agreed that the next CRG meeting would be called when this information could be presented to the group.

Can noise loggers be placed at neighbouring properties around the site of the proposed wind farm?
A noise report prepared by independent acoustic engineers will be provided as part of the planning application. The consultant engineers will undertake pre and post construction noise monitoring to ensure that the wind farm complies with the relevant noise standards. The noise monitoring will include the placement of noise loggers at key locations and this work will be undertaken once a turbine layout has been finalized. The independent consultants will liaise with neighbouring landowners to determine these locations.

 

Last Updated 17/01/2008

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