General News
14 July, 2026
Wind farm ‘sweeteners’ ahead of 164 turbines
NEIGHBOUR incentives, energy benefits and a community fund are on the table as the proposed Meering West wind farm edges closer to government approval.
NEIGHBOUR incentives, energy benefits and a community fund are on the table as the proposed Meering West wind farm edges closer to government approval.
Planning permit applications to the Department of Transport and Planning are being advertised this week.
Leaghur farmer Tyler Nelson said he would lodge a formal objection to the wind farm.
“It is my understanding that neighbours, such as us, must have buffer zones on their property now that they have not consented to and stand to be heavily negatively impacted against our consent if the project was to go ahead,” he said.
“I am not aware of any direct neighbours that have felt there has been adequate and fair consultation.”
Mr Nelson said incentives offerred by Meering West were “to buy off the community” and “accepting money is a show of support for their project and their past and present actions”.
The permits, if granted, would give the green light to 164 turbines 280 metres tall across 20,000 hectares and a storage battery on land in the Loddon and Gannawarra Shires.
Objections to the project that has attracted criticism from some farmers in the Boort district close on August 8.
Meering West wind farm wants to connect to the VNI West renewable energy transmission line that will pass through the farm’s footprint.
A community fund will see more than $656,000 given in support for community connectivity, community wellbeing and the development of local skills - $4000 for each turbine with a quarter of the cash reserved for first nations people.
Other incentices to be offered by the company include:
Neighbour Benefits - Long-term benefits and shares a portion of the project’s return. A yearly payment of $8000 for dwellings located between 2km and 2.5km from a constructed wind turbine. Payments will reduce by increments of $1000 for every additional 500 metres, out to 6km from a constructed wind turbine. A yearly payment of $1000 for dwellings located between 5.5km and 6km from a constructed wind turbine.
Community Energy Benefit Program: A project’s commitment to provide energy bill relief to neighbours. Dwellings located between 6km and 10km from a constructed wind turbine will be offered a $50 monthly discount on their electricity bill.
Sports Participation Program: Support for sporting clubs throughout construction and operations. Boort Football, Netball and Golf Clubs have already received funding from Meering West,
Meering West Wind Farm says it will be paying an estimated $2.1 million each year to the Gannawarra and Loddon Shires in lieu of rates.
Construction of the wind farm is scheduled to start in 2029 and be operational in 2032.
Meering West was contacted for comment.
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BACKGROUNDER
Proposal first floated five years ago
THE proposed Meering West wind farm involves 31 landholders.
The proposal was first floated in 2021 when 15 families nominated a four-person committee to oversee a tender process that awarded the project to Virya Energy, according to the company.
“Meering West Wind Farm has been co-designed with host landowners to minimise impacts on current and future farming, while enhancing on-farm outcomes through shared infrastructure.
“Key design features include locating turbines outside current and proposed pivot irrigators, minimising biosecurity risks by ensuring single-property access where possible, upgrading existing access tracks, aligning new tracks along paddock edges and at 90 degrees to cropping lines to support GPS auto-steer and future robotics.
“The project is proposing a 2km voluntary setback from neighbouring dwellings* that are not involved with the project.
“With a proposed 1.5GW of capacity and 1000MWh of energy storage the project is of a scale to provide system capacity and vast volumes of annual electricity.”
Meering West is in the proposed north west renewable energy zone.
Read More: Meering West