FIFTEEN years after first being granted a permit, wind farm proponent, Global Power Generation (GPG), will begin construction of 23 turbines over an area of 2280 hectares near Hawkesdale, next week.

Former Victorian planning minister, Richard Wynne, first approved the Hawkesdale wind farm back in 2008, but the project was delayed, and the permit eventually lapsed.

A group of local opponents of the project, “People of the Small Town of Hawkesdale”, launched a legal case in 2021 against the Minister for Planning, who approved the project and granted GPG an extension of the permit.

The group, whose legal representation included Allan Myers QC, launched proceedings on the basis that the wind farm could not legally proceed as certain requirements had not been met by the proponents.

The “People of the Small Town of Hawkesdale” president and spokesperson, John Bos said at the time, signatures from the four landowners who would host the wind farm, were not obtained.

“That wasn’t done, and the time limit had [sic] expired,” he said.

However, the Supreme Court rejected the group’s arguments and ruled in favour of the Planning minister in August, 2022.

The group further appealed but lost before stating they would appeal to the High Court of Australia.

In September 2022, Mr Bos posted a statement on the group’s Facebook page that said the “People of the Small Town of Hawkesdale”, would not proceed with an appeal to the High Court.

“After consultation with the legal advisers, it was decided (we) would not go ahead with the High Court action,” he said.

“They (the group’s legal representation) indicated there was no guarantee that costs may not be awarded against the association (the group) should we lose a High Court hearing against the Hawkesdale Wind Farm development.

“We simply could not afford this risk.

“They had the power and the money to proceed to the bitter end - as far as they want to go.

“We were not prepared to risk our properties and livelihoods.”

Geotechnical investigations, cultural heritage surveys onsite and access negotiations with landowners, have been underway signalling progress of the project and imminent construction.

Mr Bos, who runs a transport company out of Hawkesdale and his wife, Julie, who operates the Licensed Post Office (LPO) in Hawkesdale, have lived and raised their family in the small town over the last 30 years.

He said the height of the proposed Hawkesdale wind turbines had been extended without adequate foresight as to how this would impact the community.

“The impact of the closeness of the turbines would significantly hamper any future development within the town,” he said.

“There were three people on the planning panel in 2017, and they decided to extend the height of the turbines.

“Brett Davis was head of the planning panel who allowed that - he is now the chief executive of the Moyne Shire.”

Mr Bos also said that as yet, there had not been an influx of survey or preconstruction employees bringing any economic benefits to the town.

“The sale of bread and milk out of the LPO hasn’t increased,” he said.

“They might drive past in their ute or whatever, but those people don’t come into the town.”

A spokesperson for GPG told The Spectator it was anticipated around 200 people would be employed during construction which would take around 12 months, and then a remaining six would be full time employees.

“Those employees and contractors will come in waves,” they said.

“We try and use as many locals as possible - at Ryan’s Corner which is well under construction just north of Port Fairy - there are a lot of local contractors.”

However, Mr Bos said he did not believe that even during construction there would be any economic benefits to the township.

“It didn’t happen at Macarthur, and it won’t happen here,” he said.

There had also been contention around the proximity of the turbines to Hawkesdale homes.

The spokesperson for GPG confirmed the turbines would be no closer than one kilometre to any residences.

In September 2022, after a strong response from the community, Moyne Shire adopted a new position on wind farm developments and called for a pause on new wind farm developments until strategic land use planning in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (SWREZ) was completed.

Moyne Shire has six operating wind farms, two under construction, two approved to begin (including Hawkesdale) and two further planning applications lodged.

The spokesperson for GPG confirmed the date for construction of the Hawkesdale Wind Farm to begin, was January 9, 2023.