Frequently Asked Questions
About
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The Macorna Wind Farm is a proposed project in the North West Renewable Energy Zone with capacity of up to 1000 MW. It will potentially be accompanied by a battery energy storage system (BESS) the capacity of which is not yet determined. The Macorna Wind Farm is anticipated to connect to the proposed Tragowel Substation which is adjacent to the site.
The wind farm will be constructed to enable the continued use of the land for existing agricultural purposes.
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The Macorna Wind Farm is being developed by local brothers Don and Graham Webb (WindFarmers Energy Group) in partnership with Atmos Renewables a Australian renewable energy owner and operator.
WindFarmers Energy Group partnered with Atmos Renewables early in the process, to involve the future operator from the start of the project to build lasting relationships with landholders and the wider community.
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The wind turbine model proposed for installation at Macorna Wind Farm will be confirmed as the planning process progresses. At this stage, it is expected that the wind turbine blades will be approximately 80-90 metres long. The height of the turbine ‘hub’ is expected to be in the range of 150-170 metres from ground level with a tip height of 230-260 metres. The project team may consider alternative wind turbines should they become available, subject to any permit requirements and impact assessments for the project.
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No. VNI West is an independent project, which is proposed by Transmission Company Victoria (TCV). Further information on the VNI West project can be found here.
A portion of the proposed VNI West alignment is within the Macorna Wind Farm. We anticipate connecting to the grid network via the VNI West terminal station in Tragowel, which is proposed directly adjacent to the Macorna Wind Farm. As a result we do not anticipate requiring additional transmission lines external to the Macorna Wind Farm project boundary to provide connection to the grid.
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A wind farm (including all its components) has a typical lifespan of around 30 years, during which the turbines can operate efficiently to generate clean electricity. Just like all machinery, turbine components such as the blades, gears and electrical systems, may require maintenance or repairs over time. Regular servicing and maintenance help keep the turbines running smoothly throughout the wind farm’s operational lifespan.
Planning & design
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Macorna Wind Farm is in the early stages of planning and design. Both state and federal approvals will be required prior to the project proceeding to construction, which may take 2-4 years. Further details will be shared once the project’s approval pathway is clarified in late 2025.
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Environmental studies are undertaken by independent experts to identify possible project impacts. These studies are used to inform decisions about design, planning and construction management.
Studies typically undertaken for a wind farm project include:
Traffic
Noise
Cultural Heritage
Flora and Fauna, including Bird and Bat studies
Landscape and Visual
Shadow Flicker
Electromagnetic Fields and Communications
Fire
Surface Water and Groundwater
Socio-economic
Aviation
Agricultural Land Use
Geotechnical
Hydrogeology
Air Quality.
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The construction period would be expected to take approximately three years in total. Pending timing and success of approvals, construction is planned to commence in 2029, with first power generated from 2030 onwards.
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The Macorna Wind Farm is located over a potential area of 30,000 Ha, however only a very small portion of this area (approximately 450 Ha or 1.5 %) is required during the operation of the wind farm. A small portion of additional land may be temporarily required during the construction period of the project. The rest of the land can continue its existing agricultural operations or other land use. Upon decommissioning of a wind farm, the land is rehabilitated to allow previous land use to return to this small area.
Over a 30 year period the land impacts (mining and plant) of a coal generator are typically greater then a wind farm, and it is generally not possible to return the mine or plant area to agricultural production following completion of operations.
Read more here.
Potential amenity impacts
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Noise studies will be undertaken and submitted as part of the planning process for the project. During the design phase, Atmos will model noise from the proposed turbine layout to confirm that levels at nearby houses remain within the required limits. Noise assessments are also audited by an independent auditor who is registered with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Noise monitoring will also be required if the project proceeds into operations, to ensure the wind farm complies with the approval conditions. Noise compliance reports are required to be submitted to the EPA annually during operations.
In Victoria the EPA noise limit is typically set at 40 dB(A) or background sound level + 5 dB (whichever is greater). 40 dB is similar for example to the average background noise in a modern home, or a car passing about 400-500m away.
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A full landscape and visual impact assessment will be prepared as part of the development approval for the project and will detail the landscape values of the area and make recommendations to further minimise any impacts. Visual screening works at surrounding dwellings may be considered as part of the projects approval requirements.
The project team will be in contact with landowners nearby the project to discuss the assessments undertaken and potential measures to reduce visual impacts where appropriate.
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The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Statement: Evidence on Wind Farms and Human Health was released on 11 February 2015.
The Statement provides advice to Australian communities and to policy makers on this issue. After careful consideration and deliberation, NHMRC concludes that there is currently no consistent evidence that wind farms cause adverse health effects in humans.
Read more here.
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During construction, the transportation of equipment to site will be carefully managed to minimise impacts on local roads. In some instances, this could require minor road upgrades to facilitate deliveries.
A Traffic Management Plan (TMP) will be required for the project. This document will outline how traffic impacts from the wind farm, both during construction and operation, will be managed. The TMP aims to minimise disruptions to the existing road network and ensure safe passage for construction vehicles, project personnel, and the public.
As part of the TMP, consideration will also be given to minimise impacts on school bus routes, local agriculture (such as harvesting periods), coexistence of larger farm machinery, and the use of roads for livestock where applicable.
Consultation & community
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A detailed Community & Stakeholder Engagement Plan has been prepared to ensure stakeholders are informed and consulted at key phases of the planning process.
The project team is in the early stages of formally introducing the project to the wider Loddon Mallee community, with more opportunities to follow in 2025/26. Further consultation will be planned to provide information on the outcomes of environmental studies and to contribute feedback on proposed design, planning and construction management.
Local stakeholders including representatives from Gannawarra Shire Council and Loddon Shire Council have been briefed on the project. The project team is also in the early stages of undertaking consultation with the Traditional Custodians of the site, and other stakeholders in the region.
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Atmos and WindFarmers know that the best outcomes happen when communities are involved from the start. Whether you're a local landholder, business owner, Traditional Custodian, or long-time resident, your knowledge and experience can help us design a better project that fits in with your community.
The project team will be visiting Macorna regularly and will promote consultation events in local media before they are held.
Please get in touch with any questions, concerns or ideas:
Email: MacornaWF@atmosrenewables.com.au
Website contact us page: https://www.macornawindfarm.com.au/contact
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By sharing your knowledge, you can help:
Respect culture and heritage
Avoid issues and risks
Shape benefit-sharing programs for locals
Design smarter traffic and access plans
Protect farming activities and local events
Support what’s most important to your community.
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Will this project affect my land, road access, or livelihood?
Do I have local knowledge the planning team might not know about?
How can this project contribute positively to my community?
What are my biggest concerns - and how can they be addressed?
Is there anything I’d like to see improved in the project design?
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In the early planning stages, the project team expects to provide project updates at regular intervals, including letters to neighbours and newsletters when planning milestones are reached.
The website will continue to be updated as the project moves through the planning process.
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Atmos and WindFarmers are committed to ensuring that Macorna Wind Farm directly contributes to the long-term prosperity and wellbeing of the broader community surrounding the project. As part of this commitment, should the project proceed to construction Atmos is pleased to offer:
A Annual Energy Offset of $1,000 per annum for dwellings located within 6 km of an installed wind turbine
A Nearby Neighbour Program, of up to $20,000 per annum per dwelling for those dwellings within 3.5 km of a wind turbine
A Community Benefit Fund of $1,000 per annum per turbine
Currently, specific turbine locations are yet to be confirmed but this will be shared in the coming months. An additional community sponsorship fund is available during the development phase of the project, with up to $50,000 per annum available for sponsorship, grants or in-kind contributions.
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We are committed to employing local people and buying local, wherever possible. We’re always on the look out to build new working relationships with local businesses and encourage businesses to register their interest via email.
Email: MacornaWF@atmosrenewables.com.au
Website goods and services register: https://www.macornawindfarm.com.au/community
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Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions about the Macorna Wind Farm via the details below:
Email: MacornaWF@atmosrenewables.com.au
Website contact us page: https://www.macornawindfarm.com.au/contact
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Studies have been completed in recent years about property prices on land surrounding wind farms. These studies indicate that there is insufficient data to have a conclusive answer, though windfarms are unlikely to negatively impact on the value of surrounding land in an agricultural setting.
A 2016 study commissioned by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage had similar findings. The study finds that for rural properties used for primary production, there is no direct loss of productivity resulting from wind farms. Therefore, wind farms are unlikely to negatively impact the value of such properties.
Read more here.
Environment
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Water resources are critically important to the sustainability of local farm enterprises. Hydrological modelling will be undertaken as part of the development studies to understand potential flood risk across the site, so that the design can avoid areas that are subject to high levels of flooding. This modelling will also consider stormwater and erosion management so that local rivers are protected.
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The turbine locations will be selected to avoid impacts to local flora and fauna, as far as possible. The wind farm is primarily proposed on highly disturbed or modified land, such as areas currently used for grazing and cropping rather than on areas with remnant native vegetation.
The project will be subject to comprehensive assessments which ensure that their potential effect on the immediate surroundings, including fauna and flora, are carefully considered before construction commences.
A range of flora and fauna studies have been carried out to date, and will continue to be undertaken, including targeted surveys, as the project progresses.
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In extreme conditions it is possible for turbine blades to degrade slowly over time, especially if exposed to heavy rain or hail. For onshore wind turbines this is typically in the order of 8-50 g/year per blade.
Protective coatings on wind turbine blades’ are non-toxic and contain negligible amounts of bisphenol A (BPA). The blades are specifically designed to have high weather resistance. Degradation in wind turbines is very small in comparison to other sources, such as car and truck tyres, road markings, washing, paint, astroturf and car brakes. Continuous improvements in wind turbines and a regular maintenance program can further reduce blade degradation.
Read more here.
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All electrical devices, from household appliances to powerlines, produce very small electromagnetic fields. Wind turbines are no different. The levels of EMF measured around wind farms are extremely low and well below international health and safety guidelines. In fact, the EMF produced by everyday items such as hairdryers, televisions, or mobile phones is often far higher than what you would encounter near a turbine. Independent health authorities have consistently found no evidence of health risks from EMF at wind farms.
It is also important to note that the EMF decreases rapidly with distance from the source.
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Scientific reviews by bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have confirmed there is no credible evidence linking infrasound from wind farms to health impacts.
Integration with existing farming
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Yes. The infrastructure layout for the project will be designed in consultation with the landowners to minimise any impacts on existing farming operations.
Wind turbines are highly suitable for coexisting with existing farming operations. Turbines occupy only a very small percentage of the land, and landowners can continue their normal grazing or cropping activities.
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No. The Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program have stated “it is safe for livestock to graze in a paddock which also contains solar panels, wind turbines or other equipment”. Wind Turbines have been operating across the world for 30+ years and we are not aware of any livestock accreditation issues resulting from the presence of wind turbines on agricultural land.
The Insurance Council of Australia has stated “At the time of writing, the Insurance Council is not aware of any instances where Insurance Council members have been unable to provide insurance or have increased premiums as a result of a farm (or a neighbouring property) hosting energy infrastructure.” There is no evidence of increased farm or public liability insurance premiums as a result of hosting or neighbouring a wind farm.
Read more here.
Fire
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The risk of fire at wind farms is very low due to:
the location of turbines in relation to cleared construction hardstand areas which reduce available fuel load
lightning protection devices installed on every turbine, which in turn reduce ground strikes that might otherwise have started fires
monitoring systems are installed in turbines to detect temperature increases and will automatically slow or shut down the turbine if the temperature or windspeed exceeds an assigned threshold
any flammable elements are located high above the ground.
Modern wind turbines include built in fire detection, arc flash detection and suppression systems. If smoke is detected, the turbine immediately shuts down and alerts are sent to 24/7 monitoring teams. The suppression system will activate in the event of fire. In this case, a gas suppressant is released to extinguish any fire. The turbine cannot run if the fire detection or suppression system is not functional.
There are guidelines from fire authorities specifically for Renewable Energy Facilities that set out requirements for emergency prevention and response. Atmos collaborates closely with the stakeholders and authorities when designing a wind farm and developing their Bushfire Mitigation plan for the project.
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Wind farms are planned and constructed in consultation with the appropriate fire authorities.
Wind farms are not considered to increase fire risk. In fact, in most cases wind farms benefit firefighting because of their large access track network and greater monitoring. These provide quicker access to fires, and act as fire breaks. Further, the additional personnel on site during construction and operation, and additional water access points and tanks, act to assist fire fighting efforts.
Furthermore, wind farms are not considered to pose a major hazard for fighting bushfires from the air as turbine coordinates are logged with airspace authorities and pilots quickly become accustomed to the location of turbines. Pilots view turbines as no different to other tall structures and hazards such as power lines, transmission towers, radio masts, mountains and valleys.
Wind farms are simply another piece of infrastructure in the environment that need to be managed on a risk basis when fighting fires. Turbines can also be stopped remotely, and hub and blade positions fixed if needed during an emergency event to aid aerial fire fighting efforts.
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Wind turbines, substations and meteorological masts are high-value, critical assets and all contain lightning protection systems to protect people and help prevent damage.
Decommissioning & repowering
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At the end of the operational period, the project may be repowered (replacing the wind turbines with new models) or decommissioned.
Repowering may involve a new permit for the project to install new or modify the existing turbines to provide for a further 30 years of operations. Repowering would seek to use as much of the existing wind farm infrastructure as possible.
If the project is decommissioned the land will be restored to its previous state to allow for agricultural practices to resume. At the end of the operating life of the project, all above ground infrastructure is removed. Access tracks will be rehabilitated or left if they assist farming operations if requested by the host landholder.
Atmos is fully responsible for decommissioning the wind farm under the development permit. In addition, land agreement requirements typically include a bond to be established to ensure that sufficient funding is available to cover the costs of decommissioning.
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Yes! The steel, iron, aluminium, copper, concrete, and electronic components of wind turbine foundations, towers, and wiring can be completely recycled – comprising ~ 85% of the wind turbine.
The remaining challenge in recycling lies in blades, however wind turbine manufacturers are currently conducting substantial research and development to address this.
Vestas, Australia’s leading wind turbine supplier, is targeting 100 % blade recyclability by 2030, which given the project timeline could be possible to be installed at Macorna Wind Farm.
Why wind energy?
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Wind energy is a clean and renewable source of energy. Diverse location of renewable energy across the grid and the incorporation of energy storage systems further supports the reliable supply of energy. Wind is a significant contributor in the transition to clean energy.
The land, biodiversity and environmental impacts of wind farms are significantly lower than those created in mining and burning fossil fuels.
Most wind turbine components are recyclable with valuable steel, copper and aluminium making up most of the material.
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In 2024, wind power accounted for 34.4 per cent of Australia’s renewable power generation and 13.4 per cent of all electrical generation.
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Modern wind farms still generate power on low wind days, but the exact amount they produce depends on wind speed. On days where wind speed is low, the turbines will spin slower and generate less power, but they typically still produce some electricity at least 70-80% of the time.
During extreme weather events, such as very high winds or storms, turbines may automatically shut down to protect the machinery from damage. Most modern wind turbines are designed to stop operating if wind speeds go above a certain limit, usually 90 kilometres per hour. Once wind speeds return to nominal levels, they start up again and resume generating power.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) manages the system to ensure that a mix of generators and storage technologies are available to meet demand. If the wind is not blowing at one wind farm, generators (including storage) in other regions or using other technologies are available to meet demand.
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Macorna Wind Farm and the uptake of other renewable energy projects are crucial for fostering a more sustainable and affordable future. To mitigate the escalating impacts of climate change, achieve emissions reduction targets and lower electricity prices substantial changes to the energy sector are essential.
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According to the CSRIO’s GenCost: cost of building Australia’s future electricity needs 2024-2025 draft report, renewables have the lowest cost of any new electricity generation. By 2030, solar and wind (including transmission and storage costs) are projected to cost between $67–$137/MWh. In comparison, large-scale nuclear and small modular reactors (SMRs) are estimated to cost $150–$245/MWh and $285–$487/MWh, respectively.
Despite recent discussions around the cost of deploying nuclear energy, the GenCost report shows that nuclear electricity remains significantly more expensive than renewables.
This report has consistently delivered the same recommendation (that renewables is the lowest cost form of new electricity generation) across governments from both major political parties.
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Supporting the energy industry (both fossil fuels and clean energy) has been a common policy of many governments at both federal and state levels, with the intention to attract investment, ensure energy reliability, create jobs and provide other economic benefits.
Fossil fuel support has typically far exceeded renewable energy support, however the amount of support may vary from project to project.
You can read more here.
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In 2024, renewables supplied around 32 % of China’s electricity generation, with wind alone providing about 10%. China has now installed about 521 GW of wind capacity, adding roughly 80 GW in 2024, alongside nearly 277 GW of new solar.
By comparison, Australia generated about 36 % of its electricity from renewables in 2024, with wind supplying about 12 %. Our installed wind capacity is around 11 GW, a fraction of China’s scale.
Efforts to reduce emissions for electrical generation in both China and Australia are comparable, and it is important that Australia continues to contribute to decarbonisation in line with other countries efforts.