Blow to wind farm plans with 60 public objections to changes

Infigen Energy’s plan for 38 turbines was approved in 2014, with work to start by next March, however the company has now sought to update the project with larger and more efficient units.

It also wants to connect the wind farm to the grid via an electrical transmission line that would join a power line from Orange to the Cadia mine.

The maximum tip height of the turbines would go up to 160 metres under the plan.

However, when the plan went to public exhibition in August it received a significant number of objections.

Only one of the 57 public feedback submissions favoured the project.

And only one of 15 government, agency or organisation category submissions, from the Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange, was considered by the Department of Planning and Environment to support the proposal, although most of these submissions did not oppose the plan and instead offered comments.

Cadia opposed the project claiming there would be potential impacts on its power supply and equipment and safety risks to workers.

“Assumptions have been made that Cadia will agree to access Newcrest-owned land for the construction of the 132 kilovolt switching station,” it said.

Flyers Creek Wind Turbine Awareness Group spokeswoman Patina Schneider said the group was opposed to the project citing noise, visual, health and environmental concerns.

READ MORE: Five turbines dropped as landowners pull out of Flyers Creek Wind Farm

READ MORE: Flyers Creek still in the planning

“The impact on the community, if it goes ahead, will be diabolic,” she said.

Infigen Energy was contacted for comment.