News

Cleve Community Pop-Up Sessions

May 2025

 

In May our team headed out to Cleve to connect with the local community. We set up an information booth outside of Foodland so people could stop by, ask questions and hear updates on the project.

 

We had a great time speaking with about 70 community members and even a few friendly dogs! People came by to hear the latest on the project timeline, turbine locations, environmental studies and local job opportunities as around 10 local roles are expected during the project’s operational phase. There was strong interest in the Community Benefit Agreement, and we will be sharing more information about this in the coming months.

 

The community response was overwhelmingly positive. Many people thanked us for taking the time to visit and talk in person.

We’re grateful to everyone who came by. Your feedback and insights are truly appreciated.

 

We’ll be back in the region in August and October if you couldn’t make it this time.

We’d still love to hear from you, or feel free to join our mailing list to stay in the loop via the below form.

If you want project updates, click here!

Overview of 2024 studies

December 2024

 

Over the past year, the Cleve Wind Farm team has made significant progress by completing acoustic, ecological, and visual studies for the proposed wind farm. These studies are a crucial part of our design process, ensuring we carefully assess and manage any potential impacts during construction and operation. The findings have helped us minimize vegetation clearing, reduce noise impacts, and optimise the layout for turbines, access roads, and infrastructure. 

 

We are pleased to report that the initial survey results indicate no major concerns with the locations of our proposed wind turbines or infrastructure. To build on this work and uphold our commitment to protecting the local environment and community well-being, Vestas will undertake additional studies, including: 

  • Visual studies and montages to provide the community with a clear understanding of how the landscape will look after construction. 

  • Further acoustic testing beyond the project boundary to ensure residents outside the immediate area are not affected. 

  • Additional ecological studies and potential micro-siting adjustments to refine turbine placement. 

  • Potential for seasonal flora and fauna surveys to account for any changes throughout the year. 

We are dedicated to ensuring this project is developed responsibly and continues to support both the environment and the local community. Thank you for your interest and ongoing feedback as we move forward.

Met Mast construction begins

November 25th 2024

 

What is a meteorological(‘met’) mast used for? 

 

The purpose of the meteorological masts is to undertake wind and weather monitoring at various heights above ground level. This data will be used to help Vestas clearly define the wind speeds at the site – a notoriously difficult thing to model and predict! Wind farm development projects require long-term wind data sets to accurately estimate the expected energy that could be generated by the project. Meteorological masts are also used at airports and for general meteorological purposes, like weather forecasting. 

 

What will the meteorological masts look like? 

 

Each mast is a very thin steel lattice structure, just wide enough for a trained technician to climb. The masts will be fitted with small sensors to provide measurements of wind speed, direction, temperature and humidity. They will be approximately 120m in height and supported by guy wires, with aviation safety markers. Whilst the masts are very tall structures, they tend to blend into the skyline because they are thin and transparent.

 

What will be the impacts during construction and operation of the mast? 

 

Each mast will be installed over the span of about one working week and will be unmanned once operational. They will be fitted with anti-climb protection and locked to prevent unwanted access. Vestas will conduct routine maintenance on each mast roughly every 4-6 months, using a standard ute. The masts are self-powered at low-voltages, with no underground power cables, and fitted with lightning protection. We have selected a cleared area for both installations, so we have no plans to remove vegetation prior to installing or when accessing the masts. The masts will be temporary, and Vestas will be responsible for taking them down at the end of their use.   

 

While we have been monitoring wind in the area since 2021 and have had two active LiDAR’s around site for over a year, our new met mast central to the project will have multiple instruments to collect measurements of wind speed, wind direction, air pressure, humidity and temperature at one-second intervals over the next two years.  This data will give us a better understanding of the wind resource and enable us to determine the optimum locations for wind turbines and the expected generation from the wind farm. We expect the erection of another met mast in the Campoona Energy Hub, on the north boundary of Cleve Wind Farm in 2025. 

Renewable Energy Infrastructure Licence (REIL) Application Submitted

November 4th 2024

 

We are excited to share that our wind farm project has reached a key milestone in its planning process. We have submitted our Renewable Energy Infrastructure Licence (REIL) application to South Australia’s Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) under the new Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act (HRE Act). This licence is essential for the construction, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy projects like ours.

 

As part of the application, we’ve provided detailed information about the project’s location, capacity, and technology. To ensure our development is environmentally responsible, we’ve also prepared an Environmental Impact Report, which examines potential environmental effects and outlines how these can be managed. Alongside this, we’ll complete an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to minimize or prevent long-term environmental damage, and a Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) to transparently outline the environmental performance standards we must meet. The SEO will be developed with input from the community, ensuring openness and collaboration throughout the process.

 

We anticipate feedback on our submission from DEM in early 2025. Following this, we’ll develop an Operational Management Plan (OMP) to detail how we will meet regulatory standards, manage risks, and address environmental and safety procedures. Additionally, we plan to undertake an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) referral, even though our environmental studies suggest minimal impact on protected species. This extra step ensures we’re doing everything possible to protect South Australia’s unique ecosystems, with the submission targeted for late 2025.

Second Attendance of the Cleve Show

October 2024

 

We had a fantastic time at the annual Cleve Show on October 19th! Our project team was thrilled to host an information booth where we shared updates about our wind farm development and answered questions from visitors. 

 

Throughout the day, we connected with members of the local community who stopped by to learn more about the project’s location, timeline, and benefits. We received valuable feedback on what matters most to the community and how our project can make a positive impact locally. Visitors had the opportunity to explore detailed information on our poster boards, take home FAQ booklets, and participate in our community survey using a QR code. 

 

To add to the fun, we handed out free goodies and hosted a raffle to support small businesses in the Eyre Peninsula by featuring a custom gift box from Boston Bay Collective. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by and showed interest in our project—we truly appreciate your engagement and input. 

 

For those who couldn’t visit us at the show, we’d still love to hear from you!

Feel free to reach out via our community hotline at 1800 719 686 or email us at cleve@vestas.com. Your feedback is always welcome.