Victoria approves Warracknabeal Energy Park for federal sign-off
ABC News
October 15 2026
In short:
The Victorian government has given its final approval for the Warracknabeal Energy Park in the state's west.
The 219-turbine wind farm would be the biggest in Australia.
What's next?
The wind farm proposal now goes to the federal government for final approval.
Plans for the biggest wind farm in Australia, in Victoria's wheat belt, now rest with the federal government after clearing all state-based approvals.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has this week signed off on the Warracknabeal Energy Park, five months after its environmental impact report was approved.
The approval was the last required by Victorian authorities, meaning it will now go to the federal environment minister for final checks.
WestWind Energy wants to build 219 turbines across 26,000 hectares of farmland just west of Warracknabeal and north of Horsham, more than 300 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
Two 300-megawatt battery energy storage systems would also be installed.
The developer said the energy park would deliver 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy — enough to power 1.2 million homes.
A rural road with 10 wind turbines in the distance
An artist's impression of the proposed wind farm from the Borung Highway in Warracknabeal.
That would make it the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, narrowly overtaking the Golden Plains Wind Farm west of Geelong, which has 215 turbines and a 1.33 gigawatt capacity.
State sign-off ahead of election
The final Victorian approval for the Warracknabeal Energy Park has been made about three weeks before the Labor government enters caretaker mode ahead of the November state election.
During the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process for the wind farm, which began in 2024, 70 community responses were received.
Thirty submissions were generally positive about social impacts, job opportunities, community development, sustainability and population growth.
The Warracknabeal Energy Park will provide more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy.
A similar number of submissions cited concerns about visual amenity, a strain on housing and worker accommodation and the impact on local flora and fauna.
The Warracknabeal Energy Park is expected to create close to 950 jobs during the construction phase.
Making town 'more livable'
Farmer Craig Henderson owns the land the turbines would be built on and said the wind farm was "extremely positive" for the town of Warracknabeal, which had been shrinking over recent decades.
He said there had been "no pressure" on him to get the project over the line.
Craig Henderson stands in a paddock and grain machinery can be seen in the background
Craig Henderson says the wind farm would be a welcome boost to the economy and livability of Warracknabeal.
"The two stipulations I had were: it needed to be symmetrically laid out for the way we farm and commercially viable," he said.
"If accommodation is needed for the staffing to build this project, we do want to see a legacy effect, such as retirement villages and infrastructure that will be of benefit to the community for decades."
He said a diverse income for the rural area was needed to sustain the town.
"It's about making it a more livable town for services and community," Mr Henderson said.
"When it's a more livable town, it's easier to attract more skilled staff for our farms and businesses in the region.
"It may not be a silver bullet, but it's the best option we've got at the moment and the best option we've had for decades to help sustain these communities."
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