Gelliondale Wind Farm

Victorian Permit Issued – Assessment Process Nears Completion

admin — Fri, 08 May 2026 03:25:28 +0000

May 2026 Update

After an extensive and exhaustive series of studies and impact assessments to support our planning and environmental applications to both Victorian and Commonwealth authorities we are very close to reaching a successful outcome.

The Victorian Government approved our planning permit application on 7 May.

This is due in no small part to the comprehensive suite of baseline assessments undertaken since 2015 repeatedly demonstrating the project’s low impacts.

In a parallel assessment, the revised Public Environment Report (PER) required under the Commonwealth EPBC Act is nearing completion and will be submitted later this month.

As a result, we hope to receive approval very quickly so that this small but locally significant project can proceed to construction.

We have demonstrated clearly that the project is extremely unlikely to have any negative impacts on the local environment – including the Corner Inlet Ramsar wetlands area – which has been the focus of much of the regulators’ attention.

The project will be underpinned by robust environmental management plans during construction and operations, including a stringent bird and bat management plan that will require further monitoring in its initial stages.

Adaptive mitigation measures will be deployed to instantly respond to any impact event with detailed and rigorous investigations, appropriate material responses, and reporting requirements to both DEECA and DCCEEW.

The project will include a Community Benefits Program (CBP) of up to $240k per annum. This program remains open to expressions of interest from community groups and individuals in order to guide its most effective and impactful use.

Near neighbours to the project have their own section in the CBP and will also be eligible for inclusion in the fund. In recent years the project has already supported significant local events and programs including the Tarra Festival, the Yarram Rotary Art Show, and current ongoing support of the Yarram Chalk Art Festival and Strzelecki Koala Festival.

While awaiting approval the project maintains a database of local members of the community seeking future employment on the project. A long list of potential suppliers and service providers have already submitted expressions of interest as we begin to establish a reliable supply chain with local business operations.

We are delighted to report that the project is positively engaged with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC). The Gelliondale Wind Farm is subject to a comprehensive cultural heritage management plan and has commenced direct engagement on a partnership agreement with GLaWAC to provide maximum positive benefit for the Indigenous community.

We are continuing to engage with all levels of government, including Wellington Shire Council concerning economic development as well as with local providers over training and education for staff and contractors.

A further announcement will be made in response to any additional requirements from the EPBC process as it progresses toward a decision outcome.

Status Update – Public Notice Phase Open

admin — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:00:00 +0000

The planning application for the proposed Gelliondale Wind Farm, submitted to the State government in July 2025, is now on public notice until February 13, 2026. The Minister for Planning issued instructions to the proponent in early December that notice of the application is required to be given in accordance with section 52(1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Formal notice is being sent by mail to over 1,300 owners and occupiers of properties situated within 5 kilometres from the project site. Notice will also appear soon in the online edition of The Bridge, as well as in print editions of the Gippsland Times and Sentinel-Times newspapers next week.

The Project

Thirteen wind turbine generators with rotor diameters of up to 164 metres with maximum tip height of 210 metres above ground level
40MW battery energy storage system (BESS)
Capacity to power around 37,000 residences and business operations throughout Gippsland with clean energy for the next 35 years enhancing reliability of local power supply
Situated approximately seven kilometres southwest of Yarram, three kilometres west of Alberton and eight kilometres east of Welshpool
Exhaustively assessed to confirm low impact on the natural environment and critical biodiversity
Fully compliant with all regulations related to wind turbine noise, shadow flicker, aviation impact and electro-magnetic interference, as well as Indigenous and historic heritage matters
Neighbours and the broader community will benefit from a Community Benefit Program of up to $240,000 per annum – input is welcome from organisations and members of the public on the format and funding targets for this Program
About 60 jobs during construction (up to 85 at peak times), and 5 operational roles for the 35-year life of the project
Local economic inflow of about $100M associated with the construction of the project, and significant indirect local job support and flow-on effects.

Get Involved

The full package of application documents is available here, or via the means outlined in the Form 2 Public Notice (see below).

You can also visit us and review the application material and other project information at the Gelliondale Wind Farm Project Office, which is open on Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 6pm throughout the public notice phase. We are located at 310 Commercial Road, Yarram.

If you believe you will be affected by the granting of a permit you can make a submission to the Minister for Planning until February 13, 2026, by e-mail or by post using the details contained in the Form 2.

Gelliondale Wind Farm continues to engage and take feedback on the draft Community Benefit Program and welcomes any ideas on the structure and funding targets of the fund. You can submit your input in person at the Project Office, or you can Get in Touch and submit your suggestion using the form.

The Gelliondale Wind Farm also maintains a database of companies interested in supplying material or services to the project, or for individual expressions of interest in gaining employment on the project. If you are interested in these opportunities, please complete the relevant registration here.

Gelliondale Wind Farm – Major Update

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:00:00 +0000

Gelliondale Wind Farm has taken another major step towards construction. Synergy Wind has submitted a revised and updated planning application under the Victorian Government’s new assessment pathway.

Formal lodgement is underway and a public notice period will provide further opportunity for community members to make submissions.

The Project

Thirteen wind turbine generators with rotor diameters of up to 164 metres with maximum tip height of 210 metres above ground level
40MW battery energy storage system (BESS).
Capacity to power around 37,000 residences and business operations throughout Gippsland with clean energy for the next 35 years enhancing reliability of local power supply.
Situated approximately seven kilometres southwest of Yarram, three kilometres west of Alberton and eight kilometres east of Welshpool.

The Background

In 2023, Synergy Wind submitted an initial permit application. The Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) subsequently requested further information be added to the various ecological assessment reports to assist the approval process.

Simultaneously the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) requested similar detailed information as part of their separate environmental assessment, which requires the creation of a comprehensive Public Environment Report (PER).

As a result, Synergy Wind requested to pause the State application during 2024 to allow additional surveys and assessments be undertaken to satisfy the evolving State requirements and continue the studies required for the PER.

During this time the Victorian government released a policy statement (‘A Better Approach to Managing Biodiversity Impacts of Renewable Energy Projects’) which implemented an improved planning assessment process for eligible renewable energy projects.

As a result, along with the development of an updated ecological assessment report, the planning permit application for Gelliondale Wind Farm has been resubmitted under this new assessment pathway.

It contains all the additional information required by the Victorian government as well as relevant results for assessments undertaken for the PER, which is scheduled to be completed by September, when it will be reviewed by DCCEEW prior to release for community input.

Status Update – Ongoing Ecological Assessments

admin — Thu, 01 May 2025 23:34:31 +0000

Since submitting the initial planning permit application in 2023, the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has recommended that further information be added to the various ecological assessment reports for the project in order to assist the assessment process.

Simultaneously, the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) requested similar detailed information as part of the separate federal environmental assessment, which requires the creation of a comprehensive Public Environment Report (PER).

Synergy Wind has been undertaking a continuous program of additional surveys and assessments to satisfy evolving State requirements and initiate the studies required for the Commonwealth PER.

Our various assessments for the PER are continuing, and we are undertaking extensive research to demonstrate that the project can operate with minimal impact on any ecological matters that are of concern to either the State or the Commonwealth.

The community continues to have opportunity to seek information on the project and provide input into the ongoing assessment processes, which will continue during 2025.

Have Your Say on Community Funding

admin — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 21:00:00 +0000

Synergy Wind invites you to share your thoughts on a Community Benefit Fund that would contribute up to $240,000 annually to local projects when the proposed Gelliondale Wind Farm becomes operational. The fund aims to support a range of community needs, from education and sports uniforms to medical equipment. If you have an idea or suggestion, we’d love to hear from you, so please reach out to the project team using the details below. We also welcome your feedback and questions as the proposal moves through the planning and approvals phase.

This is your chance to create opportunities that benefit your community. We invite your ideas, feedback and questions via e-mail, phone or the project website (details below).

Project Snapshot

Turbines: Up to 13

Height: Up to 210 metres

Location:

Approximately seven kilometres south-west of Yarram, three kilometres west of Alberton and eight kilometres east of Welshpool.
The area is cleared agricultural land with supporting infrastructure including energy storage and a substation next to an existing 66 kV transmission line.

Installed capacity:

About 80 MW
About 37,000 average Victorian homes powered annually with clean renewable energy

Jobs:

About 50 jobs during construction and about 10 ongoing positions

Project status:

Planning and approvals processes underway at State and Commonwealth levels
Planning and technical investigations completed along with targeted flora and fauna surveys, ecological surveys and a range of detailed environmental assessments being finalised
Engagement with neighbouring properties ongoing
Broader community engagement underway

Gelliondale Wind Farm Project Office
310 Commercial Road Yarram VIC 3971
Open every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 1 pm to 6 pm by appointment.
P: 1800 931 871
E: contact@gelliondalewind.com
W: Submit an enquiry

EPBC Update – Opportunity for Public Comment

admin — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 23:19:44 +0000

On 22 January 2024, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) published the draft guidelines for the Public Environment Report (PER) required for the EPBC assessment of Gelliondale Wind Farm, and an opportunity exists for interested members of the public to provide comment on those guidelines.

The Gelliondale Wind Farm project involves the development of a wind energy facility comprising of up to 13 wind turbine generators, two operations and maintenance facilities, and a battery energy and storage system.

The Gelliondale Wind Farm project is a $300M project, providing local investment, local jobs, and local generation of clean renewable energy.

If you wish to comment on the draft guidelines for the preparation of a draft Public Environment Report, search for EPBC Number 2023/09577 at the EPBC Act Public Portal (https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/open-for-comments/), and click ‘Make Comment’.

Assessment Process Update

admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 23:29:16 +0000

State Assessment

We are preparing our response to the Request for Further Information (RFI) from DTP and expect to submit this during November.

The Minister for Planning decided, on 5 October, to call in the permit application, which will facilitate the assessment of the project by a planning panel. Further details will be announced when they become known.

Commonwealth EPBC Assessment

The project continues to undergo assessment by DCCEEW. The period for public comments closed on 19 September.

A referral decision was made on 17 October that the project is a ‘controlled action’, meaning the project will require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed.

Further, the assessment approach was determined. The project will be assessed by public environment report under the EPBC Act.

It is anticipated that DCCEEW will issue a direction for the project to publish public environment reports within a scheduled time period. Further information will be provided as it becomes known.

Gelliondale EPBC Referral Open for Public Comment

admin — Sat, 09 Sep 2023 03:57:54 +0000

An application for a planning permit for the Gelliondale Wind Farm has been submitted to the Victorian Government.

The proposed project consists of 13 wind turbines and ancillary infrastructure across 1500 hectares of cleared agricultural land. The site is 45 kilometres south of Traralgon bounded by the townships of Alberton, Hedley and Gelliondale.

The wind farm will generate about 300,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually — enough to power up to 37,000 homes with clean renewable energy.

The planning permit application follows detailed technical investigations and environmental assessments. The full suite of studies can be viewed on the project website.

A referral has been made to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and this is open for public comment until 19 September on the EPBC Act Public Portal.

Gelliondale Wind Farm is committed to sharing the benefits of the project with the community. It will distribute up to $240,000 each year through a Community Benefit Program.

The project team continues to seek feedback on the development of the program. Local jobs will be created through the project — about 50 during construction and 10 ongoing positions. Local suppliers will be utilised wherever practicable.

Team members are available to discuss the project at the Gelliondale Wind Farm Information Centre in Yarram on Thursdays (1pm to 6pm) or by appointment.

Gelliondale Wind Farm planning application submitted

admin — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:33:01 +0000

An application for a planning permit for the Gelliondale Wind Farm project has now been submitted to the Victorian Government.

The proposed project will consist of 13 wind turbines across 1500 hectares of cleared agricultural land and ancillary infrastructure including a battery energy storage system and substation.

The site is approximately 7 kilometres south-west of Yarram, 3 kilometres west of Alberton and 8 kilometres east of Welshpool.

Synergy Wind is developing the project with support from RWE Renewables Australia, the fourth largest renewable energy generator in the world with 9.5GW of renewable energy assets worldwide.

The wind farm will have a total capacity of about 80 megawatts and generate about 300,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually. This equates to enough electricity to power up to 37,000 homes with clean renewable energy each year.

It will create approximately 50 jobs during construction as well as about 10 ongoing permanent positions and deliver an annual carbon dioxide reduction of 320,000 tonnes.

The planning permit application follows a referral to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“We are pleased to have submitted our application for a planning permit for the Gelliondale Wind Farm following detailed planning and technical investigations and environmental assessments,” said Synergy Wind managing director Adam Gray.

“The full suite of supporting studies accompanying the application are now available on the project website.

“Our engagement with neighbouring properties and the broader community has been robust and we look forward to continuing to provide updates as we move through the planning permit application process.”

Gelliondale Wind Farm is committed to sharing the benefits of the project with the community in a number of ways. A draft Gelliondale Wind Farm Community Benefit Program has been developed for consultation with the community and other stakeholders.

As part of its commitment, Gelliondale Wind Farm will establish a grants program to support local landholders neighbouring the site as well as community projects.

The fund will distribute between $160,000 and $240,000 a year among neighbours and community organisations.

Updates on the assessment processes will be published on the Gelliondale Wind Farm website with links to relevant government resources provided as soon as they are established.

Media contact for further information:

Adam Gray
E: adam.gray@exceed-energy.com.au
T: 0438 418 103

Gelliondale Wind Farm to stage flora and fauna information session

admin — Fri, 05 May 2023 07:54:31 +0000

Gelliondale Wind Farm will hold a flora and fauna community information session to detail recent ecological studies undertaken on the site.

It will be held on Thursday 18 May from 1.00pm to 5.00pm at the Gelliondale Wind Farm information centre at 310 Commercial Road Yarram.

The session will be presented by Nature Advisory director Inga Kulik.

Nature Advisory is a highly credentialed ecological assessment consultancy that has completed studies on more than 60 wind energy projects nationally.

Inga Kulik will be available throughout the four-hour session to discuss the flora and fauna of the Gelliondale area, potential impacts of the wind farm on specific species and the impact avoidance and mitigation methods that can be deployed. She will also address vegetation removal and offset requirements.

Inga Kulik has more than 20 years experience in managing ecological investigations for large projects within the renewable energy sector.

The Gelliondale Wind Farm project is being developed by Synergy Wind with support from RWE Renewables Australia, one of the largest renewable energy generators in the world with 9.5 gigawatts of renewable energy assets worldwide.

“Planning and technical investigations have now been completed along with targeted flora and fauna surveys and detailed environmental assessments,” said Synergy Wind managing director Adam Gray.

“Engagement with neighbouring properties has been ongoing and a broader community engagement program implemented.”

As part of the community engagement program, Synergy Wind and RWE played a major role as a ‘platinum sponsor’ of the recent Tarra Festival.

Synergy Wind sponsored the Easter Carnival, while RWE sponsored the Tarra Festival and Saturday market and attended the Lions Club Market on Easter Monday.

The sponsorship provided an opportunity to set-up information marquees and provide the community with further details of the wind farm.

“We had about 150 individual discussions with people from the local area over the Easter weekend and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Mr Gray said.

“We also had an opportunity to outline details of the Community Benefit Program that will distribute between $160,000 and $240,000 annually. The weekend provided valuable feedback to help shape the development of the program.”

Responses to a community survey have shown that developing local industry and employment is a “high priority” for 65 per cent of residents. Other significant priorities include upgrade of local infrastructure and support for environmental programs.

Gelliondale Wind Farm awarded 13 random survey participants a $200 EFTPOS gift card in appreciation of the time members of the local community spent in responding.

Media contact for further information:

Adam Gray
E: adam.gray@exceed-energy.com.au
T: 0438 418 103