The Victorian Minister for Planning issues planning permits for wind energy facilities, more commonly known as wind farms. Permit applications are assessed using the Policy and Planning Guidelines for the Development of Wind Energy Facilities in Victoria
Once a permit is granted the developer is required to prepare a range of plans which the Minister will endorse as part of the permit. Plans are required for managing possible impacts such as traffic, road damage, noise, shadow & flicker, television reception, environmental impacts, including soil, water, native vegetation, flora and fauna. Each wind farm is also required to have a complaints management process and register and an emergency response plan.
When the Minister has endorsed all required plans, the developer can start construction of the wind farm. Construction can take up to 2 years. A project typically includes a series of wind turbines, one or more substations, a temporary construction compound, wind monitoring equipment, access tracks, underground cabling connecting the turbines to the onsite substations and a high voltage power line connecting the wind farm to the electricity grid. A larger facility may also include a quarry, concrete batching plants during construction, and an operations and maintenance facility.
When construction is complete, the wind farm can commence operation when it is given approval from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). The wind farm can operate for around 25 years before it is decommissioned or reconditioned.
DELWP Wind Farm Planning