“One of council’s key objectives is to produce the amount of energy required for our community by alternate methods,” mayor Janelle Archdale said.

“The strategy to achieve this will be to establish with partners alternate renewable energy supplies that will exceed the energy needs of our community.”

Mrs Archdale said she believes the opportunity to form partnerships with Starfish Enterprises and work with the community will realise these goals.

In November 2013 representatives from Walcha Council and members of the New England wind community project visited the Canberra region and toured a number of wind farm developments. The visitors heard from land owners with wind generating towers and observed first hand the impact of wind farm development on the neighbouring landscape. Council said it was important to learn from their experience.

Walcha Council’s general manager Jack O’Hara and director of environmental services Gerry Moran recently attended a meeting in Sydney with officers from the Renewable Energy Advocate, the departments of Trade and Investment and Planning, the company Transgrid and proponents of a wind generating project.

The meeting was to demystify the planning process relating to wind farm and transmission line developments and gain an understanding of the requirements of connecting to the grid. 

“I am excited New England MP Barnaby Joyce expressed interest in the Apsley River dam project,” Mr O’Hara said.

“When originally considered the proposal was to supplement the water resources of the Namoi River Valley and to provide an option for meeting the need for peak plant capacity for the NSW power system. Council believes this development when it proceeds, will create enormous opportunities for alternant renewable energy supplies in our area.

“Council is currently assessing the energy consumption of our buildings and investigating options for improving energy efficiently. We are also having discussions with the largest energy users in our community and the opportunities that will exist should Walcha be chosen as the Zero Net Energy Town.”