Controversial $500m South West wind farm approved

Topic:Wind Energy

Scott River was the site of a titanium mine that closed due to environmental issues.

In short:

WA's Regional Development Assessment Panel has approved Synergy's proposed 20-turbine wind farm in the state's South West.

The proposal has drawn significant community opposition.

What's next?

Synergy says it is analysing the decision and requirements to determine the wind farm's commercial viability.

Western Australia's Regional Development Assessment Panel has approved a controversial $500 million onshore wind farm in the state's South West.

The project has faced significant community opposition since it was first announced in 2024, with 400 objections lodged over the application process.

The 100-megawatt wind farm, to be developed by state-owned power provider Synergy, is planned for Scott River, 300km south of Perth.

It was unanimously approved after a lengthy meeting in nearby Margaret River on Thursday, subject to Synergy meeting a number of environmental and planning conditions.

Artist's impression of the visual impact of the proposed wind farm as seen from Scott River Road.

In December WA's environmental watchdog decided the proposed renewables project did not require a formal environmental assessment.

It was then approved at a federal level by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, which deemed in March that the project was not a controlled action if undertaken in a particular manner.

In a statement, a Synergy spokesperson said the initial development approval was for five years.

A comprehensive analysis will also be undertaken to determine the commercial viability and timing of the proposed wind farm.

Divisive process

Thursday's meeting drew significant local interest, with a crowd of supporters and opponents packing out the Augusta Margaret River shire offices.

Four-hundred and five objections were submitted during the development's public consultation. One-hundred and fifty-five were lodged in support.

During the debate, RDAP deputy presiding member Clayton Higham acknowledged the community concerns.

I do, however, want to say it's not a numbers game when it comes to planning.

It's about the planning arguments presented and the impact likely on the development application itself.

The RDAP meeting drew a large crowd of residents.

Save the Scott River coordinator Scott Baxter said the panel had failed to address concerns over the project's size, noise and environmental impact.

He said he was in shock after the decision was handed down.

Considering there were so many people here today in opposition with really valid concerns and they basically just ignored it.

Synergy says the farm's visual impact will be minimal.

This will change the complete fabric of our community. It'll never be the same again.

You put 20 of those turbines on a small footprint at the Scott River on a flood plain, it's just going to change it forever.

But Augusta Margaret River Clean Community Energy chair Jessica Worrall said it was a huge milestone.

Save the Scott River coordinator Scott Baxter said the approval shocked him.

This process was started and driven by the community wanting a renewable energy system to reduce emissions in our shire and act on climate change.

I hope the community really pulls together and supports this.

Jessica Worrall hopes the community will get behind the project.

The proposed turbines would reach a maximum height of 250 metres, measured to the tip of the turbine blades.

Electricity from the proposed wind farm would feed into the Beenup substation, powering nearby homes and businesses before being distributed into the South West Interconnected System.

Within its 3,597-hectare development envelope, the project includes a total disturbance area of 107 hectares.