Two major green energy projects are one step closer in Western Australia, but while one project has been welcomed by its local community, the other has not.
WA's joint development assessment panel approved Neoen's $2-billion plan for a 1-gigawatt battery on a sheep farm near the coal-mining town of Collie on Tuesday.
But an hour-and-half's drive south-east, the opposition is mounting to Moonies Hill Energy's plan for a massive wind farm in prime agricultural areas near Kojonup.
Farmers voiced bitter opposition to the energy developer's bid for minor changes to the wording of an existing approval on Tuesday, amid concerns it would impact nearby rural properties.
The panel approved both plans after close to three hours of robust discussion, highlighting the intense scrutiny renewable energy projects face in WA.
Concerns for family farms
Moonies Hill Energy is planning to build one of the largest wind farms in WA and has sold the first stage of the project to Enel Green Power.
The overall proposal for 42 wind turbines — 35 in the Shire of Broomehill Tambellup, each at a maximum height of 200 metres — was approved last year.
This week it wanted to amend the wording of the approval to clarify that noise limits would apply to "existing dwellings", rather than "noise-sensitive premises".
But a group of about a dozen farmers expressed concern over what this would mean for noise limits at the boundaries of their properties.
Farmer Adrian Bilney said he faced the prospect of having wind turbines on three sides of his property.
"As far as I'm concerned, a wind farm is an industrial land use," he said.
"Our land will be used as buffer.
"It's causing conflict and division among neighbours."
Farmer Carolyn Tonkin said she was also concerned about the impact of the wind farm on her property.
"Most of our group realise that we need to move towards renewable energy — that's not really the issue," she said.
"We'd just like it to be done appropriately and in a way that doesn't affect the neighbours."
'Intense scrutiny' on amendment
Town planner Liz Bushby explained to the panel that the proposed amendment had attracted "intense scrutiny".
Moonies Hill Energy's lawyer stressed the goalposts had not changed from last year's approval, and that the amendment was merely to correct ambiguity.
The company's managing director, Sarah Rankin, said the discussion by the joint development assessment panel should put neighbours' minds at rest and the wind farm would comply with current WA development and operational guidelines.
She added the company and the developer, Enel Group, would work with all stakeholders to clarify concerns.
In a statement, Enel Group said it was committed to engaging with the community.
The panel said it was satisfied the amendment did not amount to a significant change from last year's approval.
'Much-needed' battery gives energy security
On the same day, Neoen Energy received development approval for a large $2-billion battery to store renewable energy on the outskirts of Collie.
Neoen Energy's head of WA operations Nathan Ling said the battery was "much needed" to provide stability to WA's main electricity network, the South West Interconnected System.
"We have had extensive discussions with Western Power," he said, explaining that parts of the battery project would be about 21m high.
The battery is set to be built on part of a sheep farm, about 12km north-east of Collie.
Neoen Energy said the battery would help maintain a secure and reliable energy supply once WA ended its reliance on coal-fired power stations in 2030.
Shire of Collie representative Councillor Ian Miffling said the proposal was supported by the shire.
"It's been very well presented to the council and the community — there has been a good process."
