Hepburn wind leads the way

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, reaffirmed the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to support community led renewable energy projects to tackle climate change at a recent visit to a community wind farm in Hepburn.

Ms Thomas said the community-run wind farm at Leonards Hill, 10km south of Daylesford which has been running just under five years, is a fine example of what can be achieved when communities want to supply their own power.

"The Labor Government is committed to supporting projects like these which is why we are introducing changes to planning laws that will lift the blanket ban on community wind farms in the Macedon Ranges".

Ms Thomas said she was excited about the prospects of new projects emerging across the Macedon electorate in response to the lifting of the former Liberal government’s repressive wind farm restrictions, such as the community wind farm proposal in Woodend.

The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group has recommenced work on a proposal for a community-led wind farm in Woodend that would power the households of Woodend, Macedon and Mt Macedon combined.

Ms Thomas said the Labor Government will "support and stand alongside" communities such as those in Hepburn and Woodend, who are planning "to better control how their energy is made and where it comes from".