A CLUSTER of clean energy projects are starting to provide a financial windfall for councils, but some are questioning whether the cost to communities is too high.
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Moyne Shire is raking in $1.6 million in rates from energy projects in the region. Origin Energy’s Mortlake gas plant contributes almost half ($748,000), but wind farms at Codrington/Yambuk ($168,000), Macarthur ($571,000) and Mortons Lane ($36,000) and the soon-to-come-online Salt Creek ($120,000) are also big contributors. The rates for wind farms are calculated at $1229 per megawatt.
Moyne Shire mayor Mick Wolfe said he welcomed the boost to rates revenue.
“Given we are limited with the rates capping, it does take a bit of pressure off,” Cr Wolfe said.
“Our finances are looking pretty good at the moment and a lot of other shires would like to be drawing the revenue from one industry like we are from clean energy.
“These projects also provide direct and indirect employment, ongoing and during construction, and a lot of companies have community grant programs set up.”
Cr Jim Doukas said the revenue came at a price.
“I’m not against wind farms, but the location of them does cause a lot of issues,” he said.
“There are areas in the state where wind farms don’t intrude on anyone’s lives, but that’s not the case in Moyne. We might get rates revenue but at what cost?
“There is the devaluing of land the wind farms are on and conflict between neighbours. Is it worth it for a few extra dollars?”
The Codrington/Yambuk wind farm was the first clean energy project in Moyne Shire, becoming operational in 2001.
As well as Salt Creek, which is two kilometres south of Woorndoo, more wind farms are planned to spring up across the shire.
These include Mortlake South, Woolsthorpe, Hawkesdale, Ryan’s Corner, Willatook and Dundonnell.
