As we draw to the end of a busy year for the Rye Park Wind Farm project, the Epuron team would like to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas. There is already much work planned for next year including continuation of the consultation program that will feed into finalisation of the projects Environmental Assessment. Thank you for your continued support of this exciting project and your positive feedback.

Since our previous update Epuron has received notification of the Director-General’s Requirements (DGRs) for the project from the NSW Department of Planning in February 2011. The issuing of the DGRs is in response to our submission of the project’s Development Application and Preliminary Environmental Assessment earlier in the year. The DGRs set out the Departments key assessment criteria for the proposed wind farm and will contribute to the preparation of the project’s Environmental Assessment.

There are a number of detailed studies required by the DGRs to assess potential impacts of the project including noise, visual, traffic, ecological, heritage and a range of planning and statutory matters. Our biodiversity consultants have just completed a spring-summer field survey across the development envelope for the project site in line with the DGRs. The biodiversity survey was comprehensive and included the assessment and mapping of flora and fauna communities. The survey results will inform the design of the wind farm layout and will contribute to the preparation of the Environmental Assessment expected to be exhibited next year.

Following assessment of the various grid connection options available to the Project we have identified the existing 330kV Transgrid powerline running across the southern section of the site as the preferred connection location. Investigations and discussions will continue with all powerline stakeholders to finalise suitable easement and substation positions.

We have also recently established “Rye Park Wind Farm Pty Ltd” as the company to carry out the development of the Project. The newly created company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Epuron and will hold the various assets required for development of the Project.

For further information please feel free to download the newsletter attached.