Proposed development of the Gullen Range Wind Farm Southern Tablelands New South Wales Environmental Assessment prepared July 2008 by Prepared for Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty. Ltd. a subsidiary of Document Verification Job title Gullen Range Wind Farm, Southern Tablelands of New South Wales Document Title Project Application File Location \\Server\NGH-Active\Projects\Epuron\Goulburn wind farms\EA\EA Report Revisio Date Prepared by Checked by Approved by n final 19-03-08 name Brooke Marshall name Nick Graham-Higgs name Nick Graham-Higgs Sign. Sign. Sign. Post 16-07-08 name Brooke Marshall name Nick Graham-Higgs name Nick Graham-Higgs validation Sign. Sign. Sign. 1/216 carp street (po box 470) bega nsw 2550 australia t 61 2 6492 8333 f 61 2 6494 7333 web: www.nghenvironmental.com.au email: [email protected] 206/410 elizabeth street 1/44 fitzmaurice st (po box 5464) suite 4/4 naturaliste Terrace surry hills sydney wagga wagga dunsborough nsw 2073 australia nsw 2650 australia wa 6281 australia t 61 2 8202 8333 f 61 2 9211 1374 t 61 2 6971 9696 f 61 2 6971 9693 t 08 9759 1985 mob 0405 632922 Environmental Assessment: Proposed Wind Farm, Gullen Range NSW Authors’ certification Nick Graham-Higgs and Brooke Marshall of nghenvironmental constitute this document’s primary authors. The information contained in this document is neither false nor misleading. All information is considered by the authors to be correct at the time of writing. Nicholas Graham-Higgs nghenvironmental (Director) …………………………………………………………………………..…………… Brooke Marshall nghenvironmental (Senior Project Officer) …………………………………………………………………………..…………… Final i nghenvironmental Environmental Assessment: Proposed Wind Farm, Gullen Range NSW Authors’ qualifications Nicholas Graham- Nick has worked as an environmental planning consultant since 1992, Higgs specialising in environmental impact assessment and natural resource Bachelor of Applied management. His work demands an in-depth knowledge of current planning Science and environmental legislation coupled with a comprehensive understanding of Director development-related impacts, especially those relating to the development of nghenvironmental sustainable power generation facilities, including hydro and wind generated electricity. Nick has acquired his knowledge in this field over the last 17 years, during which he has worked with a number of land management organisations within and outside Australia. Much of the work undertaken has been within sensitive areas, including major works for infrastructure development; the augmentation of water supplies at Perisher Range and Adaminaby, the development of mini-hydro plants at Jounama, Khancoban and Geehi and environmental assessment for wind farms on the Snowy Plains and Southern Tablelands of NSW. Brooke Marshall Since joining nghenvironmental in 2004, Brooke has prepared impact Bachelor of Natural assessment reports relating to residential developments, road construction, Resources (Hons) water supply infrastructure, telecommunications infrastructure, river Senior Project Officer modification, wind farms and prescribed burning activities. nghenvironmental) Brooke has prepared Development Applications under Parts 3A, 4 and 5 of the EP&A Act, as well as Biodiversity Assessments, Environmental Management Plans, Rehabilitation Plans and Community Consultation Plans associated with these proposals. Brooke has prepared strategic reports assessing natural values for local government (Snowy River Shire and Bega Valley Shire) and has authored Species Impact Statements and EPBC Referrals. Brooke’s work has been focussed on the South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains regions of NSW. Final ii nghenvironmental Environmental Assessment: Proposed Wind Farm, Gullen Range NSW Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Proposal outline ............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project benefits .............................................................................................. 3 1.4 Community support and consultation ......................................................... 3 1.5 Outline of assessment................................................................................... 4 1.6 Results of assessment.................................................................................. 4 1.7 Environmental management and impact mitigation ................................... 6 1.8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 7 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 8 2.1 About this report ............................................................................................ 8 2.2 Overview of the planning process ............................................................... 9 2.3 The Proponent ............................................................................................. 10 2.4 Regional context of the proposal ............................................................... 10 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL ................................................. 12 3.1 General description ..................................................................................... 12 3.2 Wind farm infrastructure ............................................................................. 19 3.2.1 Wind turbines – general description ............................................................... 19 3.2.2 Wind turbine selection .................................................................................... 22 3.2.3 Wind turbine layouts ....................................................................................... 24 3.2.4 Electrical connections and substation ............................................................ 30 3.2.5 Site civil works, roads, and access ................................................................. 36 3.2.6 Wind monitoring equipment ............................................................................ 41 3.2.7 Control and maintenance facilities .................................................................. 41 3.2.8 Other site services .......................................................................................... 42 3.3 Modifications to equipment locations ....................................................... 42 3.4 Construction facilities and staging of works ............................................ 43 3.4.1 Phase 1: Wind farm construction .................................................................... 43 3.4.2 Phase 3: Wind turbine refurbishment ............................................................. 49 3.4.3 Phase 4: Wind turbine decommissioning ....................................................... 49 3.4.4 Construction hours ......................................................................................... 49 3.5 Site disturbance and impact area ............................................................... 50 4 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION ................................................................ 51 4.1 The viability of wind power ......................................................................... 51 4.1.1 International wind power development ........................................................... 51 4.1.2 Wind power in Australia .................................................................................. 53 4.1.3 Viability of this project ..................................................................................... 54 Final iii nghenvironmental Environmental Assessment: Proposed Wind Farm, Gullen Range NSW 4.2 Community support for wind farms ........................................................... 55 4.2.1 Government policy objectives ......................................................................... 55 4.2.2 National Telephone Survey 2003 ................................................................... 55 4.2.3 NSW Southern Tablelands Survey 2007 ........................................................ 57 4.3 Regional and global benefits ...................................................................... 60 4.3.1 Public electricity generation from renewable resources ................................. 60 4.3.2 Greenhouse gas emission reduction .............................................................. 63 4.3.3 Energy security ............................................................................................... 67 4.3.4 Regional environmental benefits .................................................................... 68 4.4 Local environmental, economic and social benefits ................................ 71 4.4.1 General benefits to community ....................................................................... 71 4.4.2 Community Enhancement Program................................................................ 71 4.4.3 Jobs, investment and economic benefit ......................................................... 74 4.4.4 Regional infrastructure benefits ...................................................................... 74 4.5 Consideration of alternatives ..................................................................... 75 4.5.1 Comparison with other forms of electricity generation ...................................