The 420 MW Moreton Hill Wind Farm has reached a significant milestone, obtaining state planning approval from the Victorian Minister for Planning. The minister has approved the project's environmental report, and the planning permits have now been granted. The announcement was made by developer Squadron Energy on 3 November 2026.

The wind farm, located on Wadawurrung Country about 35km southwest of Ballarat, Victoria, is one step closer to construction, though it still awaits Commonwealth consent under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Path to Approval

The state approval follows a period of public consultation. The project's environment report was placed on public exhibition in July, giving the community and other stakeholders the opportunity to review the project and provide comments.

Shortly after the exhibition period, the planning permit applications for Corangamite and Golden Plains Shire Councils were placed on public display as part of the planning approval process.

With the Victorian Minister for Planning having now approved the Environment Report and the planning permits granted, both councils' permit applications have passed through this stage of the process.

Project Scale and Capacity

Once built, the wind farm will comprise up to 62 turbines. The project is expected to produce enough electricity to power around 260,000 homes and prevent almost 350,000 tonnes of emissions annually.

Connection to the electricity network will be made via a new underground 220kV power line running to the Berrybank terminal station, located about nine kilometres south of the wind farm.

Remaining approvals

While state-level planning approval is in place, the project cannot proceed until it receives Commonwealth consent under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

Squadron Energy describes the state approvals as an important step forward for Moreton Hill Wind Farm, with the federal assessment now the next hurdle for the project to clear.

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