Overview
Background
The proposal seeks approval to develop a 33-turbine wind energy facility located in south-east Victoria, in the Strzelecki Ranges, to the south of the Latrobe Valley.
This requires three separate planning permit applications to be lodged:
- PA2001063 (Latrobe)
- PA2001064 (Baw Baw)
- PA2001066 (South Gippsland)
A fourth permit is sought for a terminal station within Latrobe local government area (LGA).
Submissions
All submissions and objections received have been referred to an independent Panel who will consider the proposal.
Following the panel hearing and consideration of all submissions made, a report will be prepared with a recommendation to the Minister for Planning, who will then make a decision on the planning permit applications.
Wind Energy Facility
Delburn Wind Farm Pty Ltd proposes to develop a wind energy facility comprising thirty-three (33) turbines and associated infrastructure (the Project) within south-east Victoria, in the Strzelecki Ranges, to the south of the Latrobe Valley.
The Project Site has a total area of 4,778 hectares and crosses over 3 different Local Government Areas of:
- Latrobe City
- South Gippsland Shire
- Baw Baw Shire
Due to the fact that the site is located across 3 Local Government Areas (Latrobe, Baw Baw and South Gippsland), 3 separate planning permit applications are required to be lodged. These are PA2001063 (Latrobe), PA2001064 (Baw Baw) and PA2001066 (South Gippsland).
The accompanying Delburn Wind Farm Planning Report addresses the requirements of all 3 wind farm permit applications.
Overall, the Project will include the following components:
- Thirty-three wind turbines with:
- maximum height of 250 metres above foundation level (to the blade tip)
- maximum rotor diameter of 180 metres
- a lower tip sweep of not less than 40 metres above foundation level and adjacent hard stand areas
- Three permanent anemometers (or wind monitoring masts) and one ‘development’ anemometer
- An operations and maintenance building
- A battery energy storage system facility
- Approximately 41 kilometres of site access tracks comprising 30 kilometres of existing forestry access tracks to be upgraded and 11 kilometres of new tracks
- Approximately 120 kilometres of underground 33 kv electrical reticulation and fibre optic cabling connecting the wind turbines to the substation including cable junction boxes (located above or below ground level)
- Two visitor information and viewing areas for passing traffic to park and view the turbines
- Major upgrade to one intersection off the Strzelecki highway (Creamery road)
- Minor upgrades to approximately 4.5 kilometres of local roads, including minor hard standing at two intersections off the Strzelecki highway (Golden Gully road, Smiths road)
- Business identification signage
- 12.344 hectares of native vegetation removal.
Planning permit applications
The information listed below outlines the details of the four planning permit applications.
Latrobe City Council (PA2001063)
The proposal within Latrobe City Council includes:
- twenty-eight wind turbines
- two visitor information and viewing areas
- battery energy storage system facility
- one major and two minor intersection upgrades and local road upgrades
- 10.591 hectares of native vegetation removal.
South Gippsland Shire Council (PA2001066)
The proposal within South Gippsland Shire Council includes:
- four wind turbines
- 1.670 hectares of native vegetation removal.
Baw Baw Shire Council (PA2001064)
The proposal within the Baw Baw Shire Council includes:
- one wind turbine
- 0.083 hectares of native vegetation removal
Terminal Station (PA2001065)
A separate planning permit application (PA2001065) has been submitted for the proposed terminal station within the Latrobe City LGA.
The terminal station is planned to connect the Delburn wind farm into the existing Hazelwood to Rowville 220kV transmission line.
The application includes two design options/locations, however only one will be built. The application includes:
- 220kv terminal station infrastructure, including gantries, switchyard and transformers
- control and amenities buildings
- business identification signage
- 1.657 hectares of native vegetation removal.
The terminal station has not been included as part of the wind farm application as the terminal station will be owned, operated and managed separately to the wind farm project. This permit application is covered by a standalone permit application report (which can be found under the ‘Documents’ tab above).
More information
If you have any queries in relation to:
- the project details or the permit application process, please email Development Approvals
- the Panel Hearing process, please email Planning Panels Victoria
Panel or Committee
Referral
On 21 March 2021, the Minister for Planning called in planning permit application PA2001063, PA2001064, PA2001065 and PA2001066 for the proposed Delburn Wind Farm under section 97B of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and referred them, as well as all submissions received to an independent Panel.
- Letter of Referral dated 20 August 2021 (PDF, 200.2 KB)
- Letter of Referral dated 31 August 2021 (PDF, 185.9 KB)
Panel Members
The Panel comprises Nick Wimbush (Chair), Phil West and Amanda Cornwall.
Process
Notification
On 27 August 2021 the Panel issued a letter to all submitters notifying them of the call in and invited requests to be heard at the Public Hearing.
Directions Hearing
The Panel convened a Directions Hearing at 10.00am on Monday 13 September 2021 by video conference using the Zoom webinar platform. The Directions Hearing was open to anyone to observe.
Public Hearing
The Public Hearing commenced at 10.00am on Monday 18 October 2021 and concluded on Friday 5 November 2021. Due to COVID-19, the Hearing was convened by video conference using the Zoom webinar platform. The Hearing was open to anyone to observe.
The Public Hearing allowed for:
- The Applicant to set out its case and provide evidence in support of the applications
- Municipal Councils, agencies, community groups and submitters to speak to their submissions and call evidence as required.
Report
The Panel submitted its report to the Minister for Planning on 7 February 2022.
Outcome
On 27 March 2022, the Minister for Planning following consideration of the Panel Report issued all four planning permits making up the Delburn Wind Farm.
The Minister for Planning has issued the following planning permits:
- PA2001063 – Portion of Delburn Wind Farm within Latrobe City Council (PDF, 6.9 MB)
- PA2001064 – Portion of Delburn Wind Farm within Baw Baw Shire Council (PDF, 6.4 MB)
- PA2001065 – Delburn Wind Farm Terminal Station (Latrobe City Council) (PDF, 2.7 MB)
- PA2001066 – Portion of Delburn Wind Farm within South Gippsland Shire Council (PDF, 6.2 MB)
More Information
If you have any questions about the Panel process, please contact:
Kimberly Martin
Senior Project Officer
Planning Panels Victoria
✉ Email: planning.panels@delwp.vic.gov.au
Have your say
Find out how to get involved and have your say on specific planning reviews
Status: Closed
Delburn Wind Farm
Have your say and make a submission for elburn wind farm and terminal station.
Submissions opens on
9.00am - Sunday 18 July 2021
Submissions close on
5.00pm - Wednesday 18 August 2021
Documents
The planning permit applications are supported by the following documents.
Applications for the wind farm (PA2001063, PA2001064 and PA2001066):
- Latrobe Application Form (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Baw Baw Application Form (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- South Gippsland Application Form (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Planning Summary (PDF, 2.1 MB) - Development Plans – Mapbook - part one (PDF, 15.3 MB)
- Development Plans – Mapbook - part two (PDF, 15.4 MB)
- Delburn Wind Farm Planning Report - part one (PDF, 16.0 MB)
- Delburn Wind Farm Planning Report - part two (PDF, 6.3 MB)
- Appendix A – Certificates of Title (PDF, 4.5 MB)
- Appendix B – Planning Policy Assessment (PDF, 139.2 KB)
- Appendix C – Zones and Overlays Assessment (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Appendix D – Biodiversity Assessment - Part 1 (PDF, 15.0 MB)
- Appendix D – Biodiversity Assessment - Part 2 (PDF, 14.4 MB)
- Appendix D – Biodiversity Assessment - Part 3 (PDF, 14.7 MB)
- Appendix D – Biodiversity Assessment - Part 4 (PDF, 14.9 MB)
- Appendix D – Biodiversity Assessment - Part 5(PDF, 11.0 MB)
- Appendix E – Geotechnical Assessment (PDF, 8.9 MB)
- Appendix F – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Part 1 (PDF, 15.0 MB)
- Appendix F – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Part 2 (PDF, 14.9 MB)
- Appendix F – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Part 3 (PDF, 14.9 MB)
- Appendix F – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Part 4 (PDF, 6.1 MB)
- Appendix G – Aviation Impact Assessment (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Appendix H – Noise Assessment (PDF, 4.3 MB)
- Appendix I – EMI Assessment (PDF, 8.8 MB)
- Appendix J – Bushfire Risk Assessment (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Appendix K – Traffic Impact Assessment
- Appendix L – Shadow Flicker Assessment (PDF, 538.9 KB)
- Appendix M – Economic Impact Assessment (PDF, 492.0 KB)
- Appendix N – EMP Framework (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Appendix O – Community & Stakeholder Report (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Appendix P – Turbine Distance from Dwellings Table (PDF, 84.9 KB)
Application for the utility installation (terminal station) (PA2001065):
- Application Form (PDF, 2.5 MB)
- Development Plans – Mapbook (PDF, 6.1 MB)
- Delburn Wind Farm Terminal Station Planning Report (PDF, 11.7 MB)
- Appendix A – Certificates of Title (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Appendix B – Biodiversity Assessment (PDF, 5.6 MB)
- Appendix C – Geotechnical Assessment (PDF, 13.9 MB)
- Appendix D - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (PDF, 9.5 MB)
- Appendix E – Bushfire Risk Assessment (PDF, 6.1 MB)
- Appendix F – Traffic Impact Assessment (PDF, 5.6 MB)
Submissions
Submissions and objections
To receive a copy of the submissions and objections made during the public notice period, email development approvals.
Please note: Submissions and objections will only be made available for the purpose of the planning process as set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
The information must not be used for any other purpose. By taking a copy of these documents you acknowledge and agree that you will only use the documents for the purpose specified above and that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited.