What OSMI haven’t mentioned in their newsletters is they will build a huge industrial sized wind farm of 33 x 250mt tall turbines, with each having 180mt diameter flickering blades, all within 5kms to 1267 homes.  These will be the largest so far built in Australia and most of the world. The turbines at Toora are only 100mts tall so for a height comparison look at the The Rialto in Melbourne which is also 250mt tall.

OSMI said in a recent article in this newspaper that it “values the community’s contribution to the development of the Delburn Wind Farm, and is engaging with the community to ensure that the Delburn Wind Farm project is well supported”. 

Far from being well supported, in reality nearly all of the people who will be most affected by this wind farm do not want the wind farm and do not approve of where it is to be sited.  

OSMI won’t tell you but nearly all the residents in the 103 homes that are within 1-2km of the turbines are totally opposed to the Delburn Wind Farm. Nearly 100% of those within 2km are members of the Strzelecki Community Alliance (SCA), a group of 1000 residents that oppose the wind farm. In fact, many of the 1000 members live within 3 km and all of them oppose the siting of this industrial wind farm within a pine plantation, not least for the added fire risk an industrial wind farm and it’s battery storage plant will bring. 

OSMI won’t tell you that Boolarra held a poll last year to determine how the town felt about the wind farm and 76% of voters said no to the wind farm. 

OSMI have fallen far short from having a project that is well supported or achieving any sort of  social licence to operate from the communities surrounding the project.

OSMI  talked about their “neighbour profit sharing” scheme in a recent newsletter.

What they don’t mention is that any payments will be taxable like any other income. So some may end up with only half the amount promised in their pockets. OSMI have stated this profit sharing pool will be a fixed amount no matter how many homes are involved so the amounts each household receives will reduce greatly if it is also paid to those within 3km too. 

OSMI don’t mention in these articles that there are 103 homes forced to live within 1- 2km of these turbines,  317 homes within 3kms and 1267 homes within 5km.  OSMI’s state their “profit sharing” for houses within 2km is potentially between $2,500-$6,500 per annum depending on closeness and numbers of turbines seen, but the real figure would be substantially less, especially if shared between 317 homes and not 103 homes.

OSMI have partnered with HVP for Delburn wind farm but fail to mention in these news articles that they are investigating developing more wind farms within other HVP sites across Gippsland. 

OSMI don’t mention they are developers only and will not build or operate these wind farms.  Their modus operandi is to prepare the reports, the plans and get the permit, then on-sell to who ever will buy. Then they start up again with a new project.  Other communities across Gippsland need to be aware that is OSMI’s intention.  And you have to wonder, given they will on-sell how meaningful or watertight are any assurances by them really?

OSMI will shortly be applying for a permit to Mr Richard Wynne, Minister for Planning seeking his  approval to build their wind farm. Once the permit goes in and it is opened for public comment residents have a mere one month to make their objections known. 

It is more important than ever for the people in the many communities that surround Delburn wind farm to prepare, fight and continue to make our voices heard. 

Angela Noone
Boolarra