|
Keeping you in the loop, without putting you to sleep.
|
|
|
Still Spinning Wheels, Not Turbines
|
|
|
Five years since the process began, Winterbourne Wind’s second “Response to Submissions” (RTS2) finally landed with the Department of Planning on 29 June 2025 — after multiple delays.
We’ve been combing through it alongside government agencies, and here’s what’s raising eyebrows:
> Worker accommodation – How will they avoid pushing up rents or taking short term housing?> Soil erosion risks – Their “self assessment” downplays the problem.> Turbine safety – Risk magically downgraded from "High" to "Low" with no design changes.
|
|
|
|
The Department has now sent the developer a letter demanding answers to “residual questions” and more detail on unresolved issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
> Costs for wind projects are blowing out, while solar and battery prices drop.
> Thunderbolt Wind got approval 15 months ago — still no action.
> Winterbourne’s main backer, Copenhagen Infrastructure Group, has walked away.
> Vestas (turbine maker) is left holding the bag, but can’t fund the project alone.
|
|
|
|
|
Translation ...
Even if approved, finding the money to build this thing will be like drawing blood from a stone.
|
|
|
|
|
On 17 July, Voice for Walcha fronted the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in Armidale.
Our key message: The New England REZ design is outdated, oversized, and based on speculative “generator interest” from 2019 that no longer exists. Walcha in the south of the REZ is being smashed with overdevelopment.
|
|
|
The numbers don’t lie ...
|
|
|
Central West Orana
|
|
4.5
GIGAWATTS
|
160,000
POPULATION
|
|
|
|
|
New England REZ
|
|
8
GIGAWATTS
|
70,000
POPULATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
but concentrated in the south of the NE REZ is Walcha ...
|
|
|
|
Central South Hub (near Walcha)
|
|
4
GIGAWATTS
|
3,000
POPULATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We told the Inquiry ...
> Building hubs and transmission for imaginary projects is a waste of public money.
> It’s a direct risk to our community and landscape.
> EnergyCo needs to stop relying on outdated, unverified developer expressions of interest..
> We need a REZ design that reflects today’s reality, not yesterday’s hype.
|
|
|
|
|
Those that gave evidence included the following
0.02.45 Armidale Mayor, Armidale Planners, Uralla Mayor
0.51.00 Walcha Mayor, Walcha Acting GM, Tamworth Council
1.46.02 Barnaby Joyce MP
2.16.09 Climate Action Armidale and REEACH Armidale
3.01.12 Valley Alliance, Voice for Walcha
4.29.28 Peter Dawson, Karen Zirkler, Selena Sylvester
5.20.18 Tony Menkins, Stuart Grills, Susan Newy, Mark Fogarty
|
|
|
|
Origin Energy’s investor updates barely mention Skye Ridge anymore. Why? > They’ve bought a bigger, cheaper, low opposition project (Yanco Delta Wind) — and even that is on hold for at least 18 months, after a recent announcement.> If the “easy” project is paused, Skye Ridge’s chances look grim.
|
|
|
|
|
Landholder warning
Re signing access agreements or leases could tie up your land for years, hurting your ability to borrow, sell, or plan for the future. Don’t give away control without certainty.
|
|
|
|
|
Red4NE’s analysis shows EnergyCo wants 8 GW of transmission to carry 18 GW of intermittent generation, mostly wind — in a region where wind projects are increasingly unviable. The Hunter, at the centre of existing transmission, with a hungry workforce, and large industry, are begging for projects. South West NSW, easy access on wide open country with no resistance, are happy to build. The New England is not the place for the largest REZ in NSW, and the disappearing money agrees. Pretty simple – it’s broken.
This is overbuild based on outdated assumptions.
|
|
|
|
The wind industry’s economics are shifting fast. Projects that looked inevitable five years ago are now stalling, shrinking, or vanishing.
Our job is to keep the pressure on decision makers, demand transparency, and protect our community from being locked into bad deals.
Stay informed. Stay vocal. Stay Walcha.
|
|
|
|
How can you help?
If you haven't done this yet please click below to sign up, even if you are also a subscriber and tick the box stating ..
"I support the actions of Voice for Walcha, in their communications and activity, through my membership"
To show your support, and to strengthen our influence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
