The land required for a wind farm is generally minimal. Land is required for the tower and access roads running between each turbine. The permanent gravel hardstand area around wind turbines is typically 0.25ha (80m x 30m) in size, with temporary laydown areas adjacent to the hardstand typically requiring a further 0.2ha (100m x 20m) per turbine during construction. Access roads between wind turbines are typically 7.5m wide, with spacing between turbines typically 500m to 1,000m apart. Depending on the scale of the wind farm, one or more electricity substations may also need to be established, which may include a battery compound. Wind farms typically also require a permanent operations and maintenance facility to house spares, and for the operations and maintenance personnel to be based out of.
Electrical cabling is buried underground (usually alongside access roads) at a depth of around 1m. These cables are covered with mechanical protection to ensure that they remain safe for cropping activities above them. Transmission lines from the substation to the main electricity grid require transmission towers spaced every 200m to 500m (or more) depending on the connection voltage and terrain.
Host landholders generally find that wind farm development does not significantly impact farm operations as cropping can occur between wind turbines and transmission towers, and new access roads provide additional all weather access to their farm.
Remuneration from hosting wind turbines far outweighs any loss of production. Often infrastructure can also be located to minimise farming production loss (such as by siting turbines and roads on less productive areas of the farm or adjacent to existing fences and vegetation).
Wind farms do not use water nor is there any significant risk of ground water contamination.
During the construction phase there may be short-term land access restrictions. Stock will need to be excluded from construction areas and new fencing may be required. This can, however, provide an opportunity for development of laneway systems for stock movement.
