Aussie court dismisses challenge against 200-MW wind project

Australia’s Supreme Court has dismissed a legal case that challenged the approval of OSMI Australlia’s up to 200-MW Delburn wind farm project in Victoria.

Supreme Court Justice Melinda Richards last week issued a ruling that declares the validity of the state planning permit for the scheme. The decision was welcomed by environmental organisation Friends of the Earth as the proposed project site is a pine plantation that is already a modified industrial location.

The Delburn Wind Farm’s planning approval was awarded in March 2022 and challenged by the Strzelecki Community Alliance (SCA) several months later on concerns that the future plant would be sited in a bushfire prone area and too close to residential dwellings.

To be located in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, the Delburn park will use 33 wind turbines with a combined power generation capacity of between 180 MW and 200 MW. It will be installed at a cost ranging between AUD 320 million (USD 212.8m/EUR 197.8m) and AUD 360 million.

At the start of 2021, London-based Cubico Sustainable Investments joined as development partner and unveiled plans to become Delburn's 100% owner prior to the start of construction. According to OSMI Australia’s website, building works are anticipated to be carried out in 2023-2025.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.665/EUR 0.618)

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