A $650 million wind farm at Dundonnell that will be one of the Victoria’a largest has been given State Government approval.

The project will create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during construction and up to 16 positions when operational.

"This $650 million, 96-turbine wind farm is all about jobs,” Premier Daniel Andrews said. “It's about creating 300 jobs and providing non-rainfall-dependent income for this entire region.

“It's a huge boost and it's just one part of our proudly aggressive agenda to make Victoria the renewal energy capital of our nation."

The wind farm will be spread across 11 properties and generate enough energy to power about 140,000 homes.

The energy produced will save an estimated 700,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

New Zealand firm Trustpower is behind the project and construction is likely to begin in the second half of 2017 and the wind farm could be operational by the end of 2018.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the project set a benchmark.

“It speaks really to the appetite that there is for investment in renewables in this state,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the involvement of south-west wind tower manufacturer Keppel Prince would be up to Trustpower.

“Those matters are for the investors … but Keppel Prince have an outstanding record,” he said. “Their quality is second-to-none.”

9.30am:

A new $650 million windfarm near Dundonnell has been given the green light by the State Government.

The 96-turbine windfarm will be the state’s largest.

The project is expected to create 300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and up to 16 positions when operational.

It will generate 1,000 GwH of clean energy per year, enough to power about 140,000 homes.

The windfarm will save an estimated 700,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, the equivalent of removing 170,000 cars from the roads.

MORE TO COME.