Nundle mulls wind farm benefits, jobs and visual impact

The 98-wind turbine proposal from Wind Energy Partners would need a workforce of 272 during its 18 to 24 month construction phase.

Once completed, there would be up to 34 ongoing jobs to operate and maintain the wind farm over its 25-year lifetime.

There is also the potential for the project to include a solar farm, located on Lindsays Gap Rd, near Old Wallabadah Rd, towards the New England Hwy.

Wind Energy Partners have suggested it would create a community investment fund, to give back to the region around the wind farm.

“Discussions have been held with special interests groups to understand how the project could enhance the existing local heritage and tourism industry,” a Wind Energy Partners’ spokesperson said.

“Furthermore, Wind Energy Partners will engage with community leaders in Nundle and Hanging Rock to discuss how a dedicated community fund could support local initiatives such as education, tourism, health of other community special interests.”

Related article: Nundle vows not to let emotive development divide it

The Nundle community is still weighing up the pros and cons of the development. The major point of contention is the visual impacts of the project. 

The wind turbines would stand at 220-metres-tall, stretching along 20 kilometres of ridgeline from Hanging Rock to Crawney, south east of Nundle. 

More than one-third of the town’s 300 people turned up to a community meeting about the development on Monday. Two more community meetings will be held in the town on March 22 and 23.

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