About the Project

Location

The map below shows the current indicative layout of proposed wind turbines for the Project. Turbine locations will be finalised through detailed environmental, cultural heritage, technical and community assessments as part of the Environment Effects Statement (EES).

If approved, the Hexham Wind Farm would support Victoria’s clean energy future by supplying renewable electricity to the grid. The Project is estimated to produce around 2,559 GWh of electricity annually. That is enough to power up to 515,000 households and abate 1.88 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

In addition to its energy contribution, the proposed Hexham Wind Farm would deliver economic benefits for the region. It would create local employment opportunities during the construction phase and provide ongoing jobs once operational. The Project would generate opportunities for local suppliers, businesses, trades and service providers. Wind Prospect is committed to using local or regional labour and services where the required skills and expertise are available.

 The Project plans to provide dedicated support for the local community. Hexham Wind Farm currently operates a Community Sponsorship Fund of $20,000 annually. Once operational, this would transition into the Community Benefit Fund, providing on-going annual contributions of up to $106,000 per year, or up to $1,000 per turbine, for local initiatives over the life of the Project.

We love supporting local community projects, programs and initiatives. Visit the Community page to see what we’ve sponsored and download our sponsorship application form.  

Project approvals and timeline

As part of the Victorian Government’s planning and approvals process for major projects, Wind Prospect is preparing an Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the proposed Hexham Wind Farm. An EES is a requirement under the Environment Effects Act 1978 and is overseen by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on behalf of the Minister for Planning.

The purpose of the EES is to carefully assess the potential environmental, social and economic impacts during the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Project. It is a rigorous process that requires considerable research and consultation to ensure that any potential impacts on the local community and environment are understood and mitigated where possible.

In September 2024, the DTP released the final scoping requirements for the Hexham Wind Farm EES. As part of this, a range of detailed studies are being carried out to assess the potential impacts of the Project. These include but are not limited to:

• Biodiversity and ecology: Assessing the impact on local wildlife, including any risks to protected species and habitat.
• Water resources: Evaluating potential effects in local water systems, such as wetlands and streams, as well as groundwater.
• Cultural heritage: Investigating the potential impact on both Aboriginal and European cultural heritage sites.
• Noise, dust and traffic: Analysing how construction and operational activities might affect local amenity, including noise levels, dust and traffic.
• Visual amenity: Examining how the wind turbines could alter the landscape and considering measures to reduce visual impacts.
• Socioeconomic effects: Assessing how the Project could impact local agriculture, the regional economy and infrastructure.
• Fire risk: Assessing fire risk associated with bushfire and a fire starting within the proposed infrastructure.

The studies aim to identify potential issues and develop strategies to avoid, minimise or manage any adverse impacts on the environment and the social fabric of the community.