On 10 and 11 December 2021, we held Winterbourne Wind Farm Community Open Days at the Walcha Bowling Club.  The event was an opportunity for the local community and stakeholders to get information about the proposed wind farm and talk directly to members of the Project Team.

The Community Open Days were structured as “drop-in sessions” with key project information presented on poster boards and summarised in a FAQ hand-out booklet.

Information was presented on the following topics:

• Project overview
• Biodiversity
• Traffic and transport
• Noise Impact
• Visual and landscape
• Aboriginal heritage
• Jobs and skills
• Public and neighbour benefit funds
• Decommissioning
• Wind resources and Renewable Energy Zone

In addition, an acoustic expert set up a noise simulator outside to demonstrate predicted noise levels from the operation of the wind farm at a number of distances.

We had a good turnout at the event, and a number of attendees completed a feedback survey to help us understand community concerns and opinions about the project.

We will hold another Community Open Day when the Environmental Impact Statement is lodged and put on public exhibition, expected in late 2022.