Someva Renewables (“Someva”) and Mainstream Renewable Power (“Mainstream”), the renewable energy companies jointly awarded a permit to investigate a wind farm at Sunny Corner State Forest, have released the findings of a survey into the community’s views and priorities regarding the Sunny Corner region. The survey was conducted as part of the proposed Sunny Corner Wind Farm’s scoping stage.
The survey, which gathered responses from 230 participants, reveals the community’s deep appreciation for Sunny Corner’s natural heritage, with 89% highly valuing its bushland, rivers, and native wildlife. Community and family connections (88%) in the area, recreation opportunities and lifestyle (77%), cultural heritage (72%), farming (72%), and job opportunities (56%) are also highly valued by the community.
The survey also shed light on the community’s interests and activities, with respondents using Sunny Corner State Forest for a range of activities such as walking (63%), four-wheel driving (36%) and camping (35%).
Jamie Chivers, Managing Director of Someva Renewables, emphasised the importance of community input in shaping the proposed project: “Sunny Corner is a unique and beautiful area, and we are committed to learning how any wind farm potentially located in the Sunny Corner State Forest could operate in harmony with recreational and traditional forestry activities and bring future job opportunities.”
“Co-design and working with the community are central to our current efforts to integrate into what people already value about the area into the project’s design and future commitments. The feedback we’ve received so far has directly informed our planning, and will continue to guide our ongoing engagement with the community. We are committed to listening and understanding the needs of the community to ensure the project delivers positive outcomes for residents, the local economy and the environment, including new job opportunities and a range of other benefits,” Chivers said.
The survey also highlighted key areas of community interest being visual amenity, bushfire management, access rights to the forest and transmission lines. In addition to these themes, interactions with over 400 people and over 120 groups, have also highlighted that biodiversity, waste management, land values and noise are important to local residents.
In response to feedback received in the survey, a follow-up survey is underway focusing on how the proposed Sunny Corner Wind Farm can deliver benefits to the community through the development of a tailored Community Benefits Program. Locals are encouraged to participate in the Sunny Corner community benefits survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SunnyCornerBenefits.
The Community Benefits Program will include a range of elements such as tailored annual Community Benefit Funds, direct Neighbour Benefits, support for First Nations groups, and partnership with local councils. It aims to ensure the project supports the prosperity of the region through initiatives such as grants and sponsorships, energy affordability programs, energy efficiency upgrades, enhanced community services or infrastructure, local job creation and improved bushfire response capabilities.
The Sunny Corner Wind Farm team is also seeking to hire a local project coordinator to support local community outreach and engagement for the investigation phase of the proposed wind farm. Job and application information can be found here: https://sunnycornerwindfarm.com.au/2025/01/09/we-are-hiring-a-local-project-coordinator/.
In May 2024, Forestry Corporation of NSW announced Someva and Mainstream were awarded a permit to explore a wind farm in Sunny Corner State Forest. If approved, the wind farm will generate about 500MW of electricity – enough to power up to 300,000 homes with affordable, clean, and reliable energy for 30 years.
Next steps for the proposed Sunny Corner Wind Farm include the release of a Scoping Report, that will include an initial proposed turbine layout, followed by a series of Community Information Hubs planned for February in Sunny Corner, Yetholme and Portland. Locations and dates will be announced soon.
“We look forward to continuing to learn from the community on this opportunity. By working together, we can shape a project that brings long-term benefits to the region and its residents,” Chivers said.
All responses to the survey will be handled in accordance with Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 and the Ethical Guidelines of the Australian Evaluation Society.
Stay up to date on the investigation of Sunny Corner Wind Farm by visiting sunnycornerwindfarm.com.au or by emailing community@someva.com.au.
For media interviews with Someva Renewables’ Managing Director Jamie Chivers contact:
Chris Williams, 0480 386 879, chris@kaizenco.au