Meering West

Consultation and Engagement to Date on the Community page outlines consultation to date.

For information on the project, you can:

• Email us at info@meeringwestwindfarm.com.au
• Call and leave a message at 03 9021 0612. Someone will be back in touch with you shortly.

Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of energy, and the incorporation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) further supports the reliable supply of energy. This is a significant contributor in the transition to clean energy.

The land, biodiversity and environmental impacts of wind farms are significantly lower than those created in mining and burning fossil fuels.

Most wind turbine components are recyclable with valuable steel, copper and aluminium making up most of the material.

Significant fieldwork, project design and the assessment process will ensure that the project will have little impact on most birds and bats which predominantly fly below the swept area of a wind turbine blade.

Some birds, such as soaring birds, like eagles, do fly at the height of the wind turbine blades. As such, studies are carried out to make sure that turbines are not placed in flight paths, near cliffs where birds soar or other areas of high utilisation.

A number of environmental studies completed including:

• Rapid roadside assessment of native vegetation
• Detailed flora and fauna assessment
• Arborist assessment
• Targeted flora surveys – roadsides
• Bird utilisation surveys
• Bat utilisation surveys
• Brolga assessments
• Shorebird targeted surveys
• Black Falcon, Little Eagle and White-bellied Sea-eagle targeted surveys
• Latham’s Snipe Targeted Surveys
• White-throated Needletail and Fork-tailed Swift targeted surveys

Community consultation with landholders and local community groups was conducted in March and April 2026 to obtain undocumented Brolga records within 10 kilometres of the project. The community consultation confirmed the results of the field surveys as the absence of flocking or breeding Brolga records within the study area and within 5 kilometres of the Project.

Sound from the operation of wind turbines is assessed as part of the planning assessment.

The detailed Noise Assessment concluded that the Project would comply with Victorian and international noise standards. The Noise Assessment was also audited by an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) registered auditor.

• Wind turbines are not proposed within 2km of a neighbouring dwelling, ensuring noise levels are even lower than the permitted by Victorian standards.
• When in operation, the movement of the blades through the air generates sound, and how loud this is varies with wind speed, background noise, topography and other factors.
• The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) produces some noise (primarily from cooling fans) and as such it will be located centrally and away from dwellings.

Shadow flicker can occur when operating wind turbine blades pass between the sun an observer of the wind turbine. This generally occurs when the sun in low on the horizon. It is more likely to be an issue for turbines located to the east or west of a dwelling.

A Shadow Flicker and Blade Glint Assessment was undertaken in accordance with the Planning Guidelines for Development of Wind Energy Facilities and the Australian Draft National Guidelines. These Guidelines require that residences who are not involved in the project should not experience more than 30 hours of flicker per year.

The Shadow Flicker and Blade Glint Assessment found that:

• Neighbouring residences are not predicted to experience shadow flicker above the allowable limit of 30 hours per year and/or 30 minutes per day (theoretical duration).
• The turbine blades are finished with low reflectivity treatments which prevents the potentially annoying reflective glint from the surface of the blades.

Wind farms which comply with the Planning Guidelines for Development of Wind Energy Facilities and the Environment Protection Australia (EPA) regulations for noise will not have an impact on health.

A study by the NHMRC, Wind Turbines and Health, A Rapid Review of the Evidence, (July 2010) found that “there is no evidence for direct adverse health effects from these [wind turbine] installations.”

Wind turbines may be up to 280m tall and mostly located within an open landscape which will make them visible for some distance. See the visual simulations above for some examples of what the proposed view is from various locations around the wind farm.

A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment was undertaken in accordance with the Planning Guidelines for Development of Wind Energy Facilities, and found that:

• The scenic quality around Lake Meran and the Great Spectacle Lakes Complex is expected to remain largely unchanged.
• Changes to views from Boort-Kerang Road and Kerang-Quambatook Road are expected to be managed with existing roadside vegetation, screening and reducing visibility
• Nearby towns and settlements are unlikely to experience significant visual effects, as existing vegetation and built features provide natural screening of turbines.
• Visual impacts for homes within 4 km will vary. For properties which may be affected, landowners should be consulted to explore opportunities for additional planting through the project’s off-site landscaping program.

During construction, the transportation of equipment to site will be carefully managed to minimise impacts to local roads. In some instances, this will require minor road upgrades to facilitate deliveries.
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) will be required for the project. This document will outline how traffic impacts from a wind farm, both during construction and operation, will be managed. The TMP aims to minimise disruptions to the existing road network and ensure safe passage for construction vehicles, project personnel, and the general public.

School bus routes will be carefully considered in the development of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP).

Harvest times, over dimensional farm machinery and the use of roads for the movement of livestock will be carefully considered in the development of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP).

The locations of wind turbines have been planned to avoid centre pivot irrigation.

Access tracks have been designed to, where possible:

• utilise existing farm tracks
• be placed towards the edge of paddocks
• follow cropping direction and GPS auto steer lines
• consider future farm plans and the use of technology.

Operations, maintenance and a long-term storage area will be located off important cropping land.

The Meering West Wind Farm is expected to have no impact on farming activities on adjoining properties.

The Meering West Wind Farm is not expected to impact GPS equipment relied on by farmers.

An assessment of the potential for telecommunication interference effects anticipated once the wind farm is operational is underway. Should any impacts be predicted, mitigation methods can be adopted.

On very rare occasions some turbines have experienced electrical or mechanical failures that have started fires. These fires are generally contained in the top of the turbine, with turbine monitoring systems alerting fire crews, who can then ensure no spot-fires start at the base of the tower. The base of turbine is clear of all vegetation.

Modern wind turbines can also be fitted with fire detection and fire suppression systems. Regular maintenance of equipment greatly reduces the chance of fires being started.

Access tracks provide permanent fire breaks and good access for fire trucks.

Fires in utility-scale grid connected batteries are rare considering the global growth of such installations.

The battery energy system is to be designed to comply with the CFA’s Design Guidelines and Model Requirements Renewable Energy Facilities.

These guidelines require battery energy storage systems to be sited in low fire risk locations and provide guidance on the number of hydrants, spacing of modules, access and firebreaks around the system.

A grass fire would be generally attacked in the same way as a fire in open farmland, through the direct attack to suppress fire.

The wind farm would be electrically isolated in the area subject to the fire.

CFA will have access to all onsite tracks within the wind farm.

Access tracks within the wind farm also act as permanent fire breaks.

Wind turbines, substations and meteorological masts are high-value, critical assets and all contain lightning protection systems to protect people and help prevent damage.

At the end of the operating life of the project, all above ground infrastructure is removed. Access tracks will be rehabilitated or left if they assist farming operations and requested by the host landholder.

Should the project be approved, permit conditions will require decommissioning and removal of wind turbines and plant.

Agreements are in place with host landholders to remove wind turbines and plant when operations permanently cease, currently proposed for around 2062.

• Complements existing cropping practices
• Provides additional ‘climate proof’ income to enhance farming operations
• Expected to employee hundreds of people through the development, construction and operational phases
• Diversifies the regional economy
• Delivers low-cost, renewable energy to the grid
• Supports Victoria’s targets of achieving 95 percent renewable energy generation by 2035

Communities expect large infrastructure projects to bring benefits to the broader area. Supporting local community clubs, events and services that have sought sponsorship is the beginning of this.

Making a commitment to support local clubs, services and events was an important element in winning the the landholder group tender to develop the project.

There are no expectations for reciprocal support from clubs sponsored by the Meering West Wind Farm. Community clubs, events and services are not required to seek and accept support from the project.

Meering West Wind Farm is committed to the support of local clubs, services and events.

Unlike most infrastructure projects, wind farms are increasingly including programs to share the benefits of the project with nearby landholders and residents.

The Meering West Wind Farm proposes a program where landholders living in the vicinity of the project can directly benefit from it.

• A yearly payment of $8,000 to be paid for dwellings located between 2km and 2.5km from a constructed wind turbine. Payments will reduce by increments of $1000 for every 500m out to a distance of 6km from a constructed wind turbine
• A yearly payment of $1,000 to be paid to dwellings between 5.5km and 6km from a constructed wind turbine, and
• Dwellings that are within 6km and 10km from a constructed wind turbine will be offered a $50 monthly discount off their electricity bill.

*The dwelling needs to be a habitable dwelling at was in existence as of 1 January 2024.

There a no conditions placed on dwelling owners and any funds not accepted as part of the program will be reallocated to a shared community benefit fund.

A Thriving Community Grant Fund is proposed to support community connectivity, community wellbeing and local skill building. $4,000 per year per turbine constructed is to be allocated to the fund to support local initiatives. $1,000 of this commitment will be specifically allocated to First Nations People.

Supporting local sporting clubs will continue throughout construction and operations.

Approximately $2.1m annually to the Gannawarra and Loddon shires through payment in lieu of rates requirements.

These commitments may be adjusted as engagement continues and when VicGrid REZ requirements are known.

Renewable energy is already providing significant investment, employment, rate revenue and broader business opportunities for Gannawarra and Loddon Shire. This will only increase with projects like the Meering West Wind Farm.

Constructing the project is likely to generate employment for around 300 people for a 3-to-4-year construction period, with approximately 30 people required to operate and maintain the project.

We are also committed to supporting community clubs, events and services throughout the development and operation of the project. See Community on our website for more information.