The land area being assessed for the project has now been revised from the initial area identified when the project application was submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure in March 2011.

The company said the project had benefitted from improving technical data as well as feedback received from potential host landholders, community and stakeholders.

“The project team has been working hard for the last 11 months to ensure that we have an excellent understanding of the wind resource and that the project design appropriately considers the Director General’s requirements to give it the best chance of standing up to the upcoming rigorous environmental assessment phase,” the project’s development manager Daniel MacDonald said.

“The ongoing dialogue with the local farmers and community members has been helping us to refine the project design.

“We look forward to developing and actively being involved in a wind farm that will generate local economic benefits and clean energy for many years to come.”

He said the latest design revisions would see the wind farm area consolidated around a fewer number of key ridges.

The next few months for the project will be focussed heavily on seeking neighbour, stakeholder and community feedback for the project with direct mail outs, personal meetings and newsletters to inform those with an interest in the project.

Wind Prospect CWP intends on submitting an Environmental Assessment to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure within the next 18 months.

Even though the project remains in the early stages of development, feedback from the community will be constantly sought throughout the development stages.

2 Wind Prospect CWP encourages members of the community to complete its public opinion survey which can be accessed through website at golspiewindfarm.com.au.

Mr MacDonald said a public open day will be held soon to provide further information about the project and the assessment requirements which will shape the wind farm.