Holmes a Court seeks public support to build Daylesford wind farm
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First community wind farm to be set up in central Victoria. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)
A company wanting to build Australia's first community-owned wind farm will launch its share offer today.
Hepburn Wind wants to construct two turbines at Leonards Hill, south of Daylesford in central Victoria.
Hepburn Wind's Chairman, Simon Holmes a Court, says $9.5 million is needed to start the project.
"The offer period will be open for three months," he said.
"We're quite confident that we're going to get that money.
"We've done a lot of consultation with the community and surveying and we had a phenomenal response."
"We approached a small number of people and managed to get indications of contributions for nearly half the amount that we need," he said.
The wind farm was first proposed three years ago, and has needed council and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) approval.
Holmes a Court says today marks another significant step in the project.
"Finding a site and securing a permit are very important," he said,
"But now this is where we need the community to come together so that we can put in the order for the turbines and start contributing to the Hepburn Shire's contribution to global warming prevention."
The company says the wind farm could be built by the end of next year if the necessary funds are raised.
