Winterbourne Wind Farm

To achieve the renewable target by 2030 or 2050, we need more renewable projects like Winterbourne Wind Farm.
To bring down the energy price, we need more renewable projects like Winterbourne Wind Farm.
If these green project cannot proceed, how could we create a better place for our next generations?
Also, the project will bring a series of benefits to the community. for example, more jobs, more investment and more opportunities for next generation.

I am extremely concerned about the rate at which we are currently transitioning to renewable energy and I think this project is such an important step in the right direction. I think wind energy is the future of renewables and I am really excited to see more projects like this one.

I strongly support this project because it will make a significant contribution to the renewable energy required by our state as the existing coal generation is closed down.
It is a necessary part of the switch to renewables that is required to reach the targets set for NSW so it should be supported as a matter of urgency.
The reliable benefits to the local community by way of jobs and contributions to the Community Benefit Fund are important in this rural environment where economic circumstances fluctuate from year to year.

I support this project because Australia really does need a solution to transition away from burning coal to create power. Not to mention that the local town will receive an injection of money and a few jobs created.

I strongly oppose the Winterbourne Wind Farm (SSD - 10471). Sections of the EIS which I am deeply concerned about are biodiversity and the local environment and the proximity to the national park, including soil and water; noise & vibration - the impact these will have on both human and animal / ecosystem health; landscape & visual; transport & traffic; Aboriginal heritage; and our community. This project is already causing a great divide in our small community which was always a cohesive and positive community.

Global warming is a clear and present danger to our society in general, as witnessed by prolonged droughts, catastrophic fires and, now, some the most extreme flooding Australia has ever experienced. One way to mitigate the impacts of global warming is to transition to clean renewable energy as rapidly as possible. For the transition to be economically feasible areas with good wind and solar resource, near major load centers, will be the priority for development. Historically, this is similar to developing thermal power stations close to coal reserves or hydro power near areas with suitable hydrology which, in Australia, has required the management of the impacts on the surrounding communities and environment for over 100years.

Any development will have direct and indirect impacts on the community in which it's developed and, while this should be acknowledged, the social and environmental good associated with development of renewable energy far outweighs perceived negative impacts. Considering the alternative, development and/or replacement of coal and natural gas, which are more expensive, dirty and finite, the need to prioritize the rapid development of renewable energy resources is apparent.

The Winterbourne project is just one renewable project that needs to be supported as AEMO has identified an urgent need to replace aging fossil fuel plants in NSW and Australia, AEMO is forecasting 60% of the existing coal generation will be withdrawn from the energy market by 2030. The effort required by the proponents of renewable energy to make this happen in such a very short time represents a staggering buildout of renewables. The Winterbourne project, which will provide about 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions reduction required to achieve NSW's goal of 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, will see hundreds of millions of dollars spent in regional NSW, creating jobs and skills for the future economy. Projects like Winterbourne present a real opportunity for areas such as the Northern Tablelands of NSW to enhance and develop a long term sustainable community that will improve the outcomes for the region for generations.

The Winterbourne project has my support and I look forward to seeing in progress.

Wind Farm is the future of clean energy, Australia should be the one to leading this industry.

The Winterbourne Wind Farm project represents the opportunity to significantly contribute to securing NSW's energy security. As I understand, AEMO is forecasting 60% of existing coal generation will be withdrawn from the energy market by 2030. We urgently need projects such as this in the near term to replace existing generation sources to ensure the continued supply of low-cost energy for the state. More importantly, the development of renewable energy projects, such as this, should be widely supported as we work toward a decarbonised energy system. The current weather extremes experienced across the state should only give further weight to the importance of meeting our climate goals, and projects such as this play a significant role in achieving these. I wholeheartedly support the development of the Winterbourne Wind Farm and hope the state government continues its support of these innovative energy initiatives.

Wind farms such as Winterbourne can have a positive impact on regional economies by diversifying income streams and providing long term jobs as well as community funding.

To mitigate the damage casued by climate change, we desperately need more renewable projects in Australia, particularly in NSW, to replace the coal-fired power plants;
Also, we need more investments in the rural areas to provide more jobs for the local community. The project will provide hundreds of jobs during construction and will bring benefits to the local businesses.
In addition, we need more renewable energy supply to bring the electricity price down.

I support the Winterbourne Wind Farm project to help push Australia to a lower carbon future and reduce the current reliance on ageing fossil fuel generators. As a leading world economy, Australia has an obligation to set a high standard in employing low carbon renewable energy for our energy requirements and helping to mitigate the further impact of climate change we are already experiencing locally and globally.
Having experience working on multiple renewable energy projects, both in Australia and worldwide, I strongly believe Winterbourne Wind Farm will have a very positive impact on the local region, providing both highly skilled jobs for the local community and the opportunity for local businesses to support the project with goods and services.

I am a huge supporter of renewable energy in Australia and this project sparks excitement - it looks to be one of the bigget wind farms in the country. Climage change is everywhere and it is so important that we take steps to slow climate change - projects like this where we transition from fossil fuel generation are such a big step in the right direction. The need for action is URGENT! In addition, there will be huge economical benefits for a project of this magnitude - so many jobs created during construction and then for the permanent operation phase, and building skills for the future economy.

I have lived on the land for most of my life and very aware of climate change and believe we need to use other forms of power to slow down the effects. Winterbourne Wind farm is an excellent proposal in my opinion. Good for the climate, good for the community, good for jobs. My family live in the Uralla shire on a property and have friends in the Walcha district. The Community Benefit fund for our Councils is generous and will help with all sorts of projects around the district. More than anything I believe the wind farm will drought proof our farms and provide a sustainable future for generations to come.

Maintaining a robust energy system is essential to the ongoing energy security of Australia and NSW. The existing coal power stations in the network have a limited remaining life, and it is essential that we commit to large scale renewable energy projects to ensure that we maintain our energy supply. Time is limited, and good quality well developed projects must be built as soon as possible.

The Winterbourne wind farm project has been under development for a number of years. The shear level of effort from the developers, consultants and other stakeholders in forming such a significant wind farm shows the dedication to making this project work in the landscape and in a way consistent with the planning requirements in NSW.

The level of detail in the works shows that every aspect of the project has been thought through, and while no project is without its detractors, the developers in this case have made every effort to design a project that works in harmony with its environment.

These are the projects we need in NSW and we need them quickly. I wholeheartedly support this project, and trust that the NSW Government will represent the needs of its citizens in approving it.

I strongly support the building of the Winterbourne Windfarm!! As a young person who used to live in Walcha I see the long-term value in this project. Australia has the capacity to be a global leader in renewable energy and thus far out governments have failed us. Walcha has the opportunity to be the beginning of the solution and make our place in history as the small down making a massive difference. If not now when, it not us who? The Walcha district has faced the impacts of climate change first hand; droughts, bushfires, storms. The benefits of this project are not solely environmental either, arguably the biggest benefits will be the economic injection into the town and community. The develops had told us up to 400 new jobs will be created and the project will delver more than a $1 million upfront contribution and $750,000 per annum to a Community Benefit Fund for the Walcha and Uralla communities. This project is a huge must!! I cant speak on behalf of all young people but we are the generation that must carry the burden of climate change and it is projects like this one that will secure our future and let me and younger generations thrive into the future.

I believe that the Winterbourne wind farm is a crucial part of New South Wales' advancement towards its 2030 target of 50% renewable energy supply, especially given we are less than half way there and this project alone will provide 3% of the emissions reductions necessary for this target. The project's capacity to supply 375,000 homes I believe is an important step forward in reducing the extent to which fossil fuels currently dominate New South Wales' energy supply so that we begin the retiring of our archaic coal-fired power plants. The economic benefits I believe are also worth consideration given this project will see hundreds of millions of dollars being spent in regional NSW and creating up to 400 jobs during the construction process, but more importantly providing rural NSW residents with the skills necessary to participate in our transition to renewable fuel sources. It is ultimately for these reasons that I fully support the proposed Winterbourne Wind Farm.

I fully support the Winterbourne Wind Farm Development. This project is exactly what the town of Walcha and surrounding community needs to promote economic and social stimulus. In the absence of other business developments our rural town will die a slow and inevitable death.
I think wind turbines are engineering marvels and I cannot wait to see them erected amongst our landscape. They will serve as a visual icon of the second chance the town of Walcha was provided.
I understand many opponents to this development cite that Walcha is “pristine agricultural land”. My family has farmed here for over 150 years, so yes I agree with that sentiment. I believe however that Walcha wind is a completely untapped resource and we would be absolute fools not to adopt the innovative methods of electricity generation available to us. I have all confidence in Vestas the developer delivering this asset to our community and our state, they have been very informative and responsive to requests for information for many years now.
This development will promote local jobs and provide significant stimulus to local businesses. I can’t wait for it to start!

I am committed to supporting sustainable energy development for a better future for the planet, it’s ecosystems and our quality of life. Supporting the Winterbourne Wind Farm Project as a clean, renewable energy option furthers this commitment. I believe this project has the ability to ameliorate intractable problems faced by rural communities throughout Australia: catastrophic events caused by climate change , loss of farm income , unemployment and rural population decline. The project has the potential to provide Walcha and Uralla Shire with an optimistic and cleaner future .

I wish to support the Winterbourne Wind Farm proposal. Through the IPCCC COP agreements Australia has made a strong commitment to reducing its emissions from fossil fuel energy generation. The NSW Government has also committed to deep emission reductions and encouraging the development of new renewable energy projects. The Winterbourne Wind Farm is located on cleared agricultural land, with support from local landholders within the designated New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). During construction, local jobs will be created providing strong economic benefits to the local regional community. Once constructed the project will deliver a significant load of renewable electricity to the grid, and will provide a range of economic, social and environmental benefits for the life of the project. For these reasons this project should be supported by NSW Planning.

This project is an important regional growth opportunity and will support an urgent requirement to transition from fossil fuel generation to slow climate change. This type is well located to take advantage of resources not available everyone and is close to the grid.
Wind energy is far cheaper than new fossil fuel generation, with none of the air, water, and land pollution associated with burning coal. It is also generated at times that solar energy doesnt.
The project will see hundreds of millions of dollars spent in regional NSW, creating jobs and skills for the future economy.