$120m Salt Creek wind farm near Mortlake set to start

The 15 wind turbines are expected to produce enough clean energy to power 30,000 homes – more than double the amount of homes in Warrnambool.

During the 12-month construction phase, 106 full-time jobs will be created and about four full-time jobs once it’s operational.

The 54MW wind farm, which is located 5km south of Woorndoo, is expected to be commissioned in April 2018.

The project was first approved by Moyne Shire Council in June 2007.

Over the past decade, Moyne Shire granted four time extensions to developers TILT Renewables - and previous proponents NewEn and Trustpower – with the most recent at the March council meeting.

In an announcement to the Australian and New Zealand stock exchange, the company said it would proceed with the project despite not yet having a power purchase agreement.

“Following the closure of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria earlier this year and a number of other market factors, forward wholesale electricity prices have risen considerably which support revenue projections in the early years of the operation for this project,” it said.

An information day would be held on Tuesday, July 11 to allow the community and businesses to meet the project team.

It will be held at the Woorndoo Recreation Reserve social rooms between midday to 6pm. 

Once the wind farm is complete, Tilt Renewables will create a fund for nearby community groups and organisations to apply for small amounts of supporting funding.

This is in addition to the Salt Creek Scholarship Program, a jointly funded initiative between Salt Creek Wind Farm landholder Peter Coy and Tilt Renewables which provide a $30,000 annual scholarship program for local residents. 

The announcement was welcomed this week by Moyne Shire councillor Jill Parker who at the March meeting said she was “very cross” when the fourth time extension request came before council.

“I’m happy they’re proceeding,” she said on Thursday.