Energy leader, RWE Renewables Australia, has announced details of a generous local Community Benefit Fund for the Campbells Bridge Wind Farm, if the project proceeds to operations.  

The annual fund would be established to provide financial support to local communities, with an aim to make the region an even better place to live. 

Funding will be calculated at $3,200 per megawatt of project capacity. 

This means if the wind farm is approved and the project has a rated capacity of 1,000 megawatts, $3.2 million will go into the Community Benefit Fund each year of the project’s operational lifespan. 

The Community Benefit Fund will be administered in collaboration with the community. 

Suggestions and feedback will be sought early in 2024 as part of community engagement.  

Commitment

RWE Australia Senior Development Manager, Ash Clifton, says RWE is committed to sharing the benefits of the renewable energy projects with the communities where RWE’s projects operate. 

“Importantly this is a community fund so we’ll be asking the community about how this fund can make a positive contribution,” he said. 

“We’re open to all ideas which could create opportunities for this part of the Wimmera. 

“RWE is already making a difference with a proactive approach to community development, engagement, and support. To date, we have provided more than $60,000 to schools, sporting clubs and community organisations in the Campbells Bridge, Rupanyup, Glenorchy and Murtoa areas.

“RWE is committed to meaningful community development, engagement and support, and staff have been on the ground since 2022 meeting the landholders who would host the turbines, and engaging with neighbours and the wider community.

Door knock

“We have door-knocked all dwellings located within 5km of the site boundary project to answer questions and collect feedback, and we have recently started meeting with residents within three kilometres of the proposed turbines. 

“A community shopfront will open in Stawell in the new year as a place for people to ask questions and provide feedback on the Campbells Bridge Wind Farm project. We’ll also be holding drop-in information sessions Rupanyup and Glenorchy.” 

If people would like to get in touch about the Campbells Bridge Wind farm, they can call 1800 298 624 or email campbellsbridgewindfarm@rwe.com.  

“We will continue to update locals, community groups and other stakeholders with information about the project’s status as part of our open and transparent approach,” said Mr Clifton.

Wind farm project information 

• RWE Renewables Australia is working to develop a wind farm at Campbells Bridge 15 kilometres north-west of Stawell.
• The wind farm would consist of up to 145 turbines located on 14,000 hectares of farmland used pre-dominantly for cropping and grazing. Farming can continue if the wind farm is constructed.
• RWE is one of the world’s leading producers of renewable energy and operates a global portfolio of about 16 gigawatts of renewable wind, solar and battery projects. 
• The project is important to Australia’s renewable energy transition and if constructed will have an installed capacity of about 1,000 megawatts. 
• The height of the turbines could be up to 250 metres, with the diameter of rotors in the order of 160-180 metres wide. 
• The number of turbines and final layout will be dependent on the outcome of the detailed environmental, ecological, and engineering studies being undertaken, in parallel with community consultation. 
• The proposed Campbells Bridge Wind Farm site is 15km north-west of Stawell, 11km south of Rupanyup, and more than 3km from Glenorchy and Callawadda, in the Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack shires. 
• Campbells Bridge Wind Farm was identified as a potentially suitable site for a wind farm based on three main areas of consideration: wind resource, grid connection options, and population density.
• Further detailed investigations are being undertaken to understand the suitability of the site and identify any constraints to help inform the location of infrastructure and the design of the project.  

Timeline  

• Initial feasibility studies began in early 2022 and included wind monitoring, ecology surveys and planning investigations. 
• The project has now progressed through the feasibility stage into the planning and approvals stage, which is likely to take between two and four years. This will involve more specialist studies including route assessment, noise, glint and glare, and aviation studies, to better understand the environment. 
• RWE will be engaging further with the local community including neighbours, the Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack shire councils, Traditional Owners, community groups and other stakeholders during this time.  
• The target for operation is 2029. 

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 8 December 2023.

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