The wind turbine has reached the end of its operational life and we have proposed it be dismantled to ensure public safety.

Since September 2024, we’ve engaged with community groups and neighbours to understand how we can best recognise its historical and cultural significance.

The Black Rock wind turbine was installed in 1987 and is an iconic marker for the area. It was one of the first wind turbines in Southern Victoria, providing renewable energy to Barwon Water for 25 years. The electricity generated by the turbine fed straight into the electricity grid. At the peak of its operation, the turbine produced between 60 to 80 megawatts hours annually.

We’re committed to renewable energy

The wind turbine has reached the end of its operational life. With parts no longer available, it is no longer technically or financially viable to repair and maintain. We will instead focus on bringing online other sources of renewable electricity.

These innovative new technologies will deliver greater benefit, including reducing emissions, saving on energy and operational costs, and helping keep customer bills affordable. This work will also create employment opportunities and support agriculture in the region.

Barwon Water has invested in approximately 25 megawatts of renewable electricity capacity, generating around 65 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. This includes:

• over 4 megawatts of on-site solar installations, such as the 3-megawatt Black Rock solar farm – which opened in 2018 and was the first megawatt-scale solar installation in the Australian water industry.
• around 1 megawatt of biogas generation at the Colac Water Reclamation Plant, a key component of the Colac Renewable Organics Network.
• a 17 megawatt share of the output of the 132-megawatt Mt Gellibrand Wind Farm, through the Barwon Renewable Energy Partnership (a collaboration of Barwon Water, Barwon Health and Geelong Port).
• a 3 megawatt share of the 200-megawatt Kiamal Solar Farm, through the Zero Emissions Water renewable Power Purchase Agreement (with 11 other Victorian water corporations).
• since 1 July 2024 our facilities use 100% renewable electricity, meeting our 2025 target and a key milestone in pursuit of zero net emissions in our operations by 2030.