The proposed Twin Creek Wind Farm, situated 11 kilometres north-east of Kapunda, will move ahead after the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) resolved to grant Development Plan Consent to renewables developer, RES Australia Pty Ltd.
The decision was handed down on October 24, following the application hearing in May in which SCAP resolved to defer its recommendation on the project pending further review and clarification.
Twin Creek Project Manager, Mr Dan Leahy said RES would take every possible action to mitigate the impact of the development on the local area where there is a prescribed impact.
“Our aim is for Twin Creek to support the area’s biodiversity as well as its people, and the project will bring 160 construction jobs, 130 supply chain jobs, and long-term employment for eight people,” he said.
The project will include fifty-one 180m high turbines with a combined output of up to 215MW, and a battery comparable in size and chemistry to the Hornsdale Power Reserve, better known as the Tesla big battery.
Twelve of the turbines and the battery are slated for construction on the property of Mr Kym Mosey, who was very pleased to hear the news that the project had received the green light.
“I’m very, very happy with the decision. It’s been eight years in the process,” he said.
“SCAP’s approval is a stepping stone. It’s up to RES now to fulfil their side of it.
“I think the community can only be happy. When was the last time a $350 million project came into our region?”
However feelings over the project remain mixed.
Ms Mary Morris, spokesperson for the Hansborough and Districts Residents Group who strongly oppose the wind farm for a number of different reasons, described the group as feeling “gutted” by the decision.
“It is staggering to think that Minister Knoll’s Planning Department is prepared to put the future of the iconic Barossa Valley wine industry at risk,” she said.
“Naturally we are disappointed that the project was given this first stage of planning consent, however there are still several significant issues yet to be resolved before the project can proceed.”
The Development Plan Consent, which expires in two years, is subject to a number of conditions which need to be satisfied before a final Development Approval is granted.
The decision comes just two weeks after the proposed Keyneton Wind Farm was scrapped by Pacific Hydro.
