Victoria greenlights massive Warracknabeal wind farm, sends it to federal approval
The Victorian government has given final state approval to the 219-turbine Warracknabeal Energy Park, the country's largest wind project, and forwarded it to the federal environment minister.
Victoria’s Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has granted the final state endorsement for the Warracknabeal Energy Park, a 219-turbine wind farm spanning 26,000 hectares in the state’s wheat belt. The project, proposed by WestWind Energy, will deliver 1.5 gigawatts of renewable power—enough for 1.2 million households—and will include two 300-megawatt battery storage systems, making it the largest wind installation in the Southern Hemisphere.
State approval comes three weeks before the Labor government enters caretaker mode ahead of the November election, after an environmental impact report and an EES process that attracted 70 community submissions. Construction is expected to generate close to 950 jobs, and farmer Craig Henderson, whose property will host the turbines, described the development as a positive step toward a more livable town. The proposal now moves to the federal environment minister for the final regulatory check.
Why it matters
The approval moves Australia’s biggest wind farm toward operation, boosting renewable capacity and regional employment.
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