A PROPOSAL to build up to 68 wind turbines outside the township of Collector, approximately 35 kilometres south of Goulburn, has been placed on public exhibition by the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

The proposed wind farm, by RATCH-Australia Corporation Ltd, would be capable of generating up to 228 megawatts (MW) of electricity, or enough energy to power around 80,000 homes annually.

The proposal also includes associated infrastructure such as access tracks, local road upgrades, electrical connections between the turbines and a new substation, as well as temporary and permanent meteorological masts and a maintenance facility.

According to the Department, RATCH-Australia was required to take account of the draft NSW wind farm guidelines in its environmental assessment, including addressing the requirements for consultation, aviation safety, bushfire issues and decommissioning.

In particular, the proponent:

• Sought agreement by letter with residents living within two kilometres of the proposed site;
• Consulted with aviation industry agencies;
• Consulted with the Rural Fire Service and considered impacts to aerial fire fighting operations; and
• Will be responsible for decommissioning the wind farm.

The proposal will be on exhibition until Monday 24 September 2012. Following public exhibition, the Department said it will complete a full merit assessment of the proposal with regard to the issues raised in submissions.

More information is available from the Department of Planning and Infrastructure's Major Projects website at <http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/>.