STORM clouds are gathering to the southwest of Mansfield, they lie over a secluded spot just north of Fawcett where the wind of change is blowing.

Some will protest while others will rejoice; a wind farm is coming to Mansfield Shire.

Tetris Energy, the team behind the proposed Puzzle Range wind farm, includes some of the same renewables experts who developed the Cherry Tree wind farm near Seymour over in Mitchell Shire.

Tetris Energy's eyes have fallen upon an undulating patch of land just north of Fawcett in picking a spot for their next wind farm.

Windy, dusty, rocky farmland that straddles the border between Murrindindi and Mansfield Shire, it is currently used for grazing cattle and sheep and a handful of alpacas.

According to VicGrid, the earmarked site is either a Tier 2 or a Tier 3 priority location for investigation into future renewable projects.

Tetris Energy has made contact with several landowners who, they say, own potentially suitable ridgelines near Puzzle Range.

Discourse has centred on the prospect of land owners hosting turbines upon their land.

The land owners, it seems, are amenable.

“We are currently working to identify hosting roles for local landowners who have expressed an interest in being involved in the project, as well as looking at ways to minimise and mitigate impacts, both real and perceived, on the communities near these projects,” Georgiana Garland, Tetris Energy Community Relations and Communications Manager, told the Mansfield Courier.

Tetris Energy has made contact with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC), introducing them to the project and beginning conversation with them on the proposed use of their traditional lands.

Furthermore, Tetris Energy will allow themselves to be guided by TLaWC’s renewable energy policy to ensure that the proposed Puzzle Range wind farm meets the strategic priorities of TLaWC as the traditional custodians of the land.

“Preliminary visual, ecological, noise and social studies have commenced and the results are anticipated later in 2025," added Ms Garland.

“The project will not be located on the approach to Mansfield and won’t encroach on the Alpine approach.”

Tetris Energy says it is targeting a capacity of up to 350 MW which will generate enough electricity to power 195,000 Australian homes, effectively avoiding 475,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

To do that they will need to erect roughly 50 state-of-the-art turbines, likely between 130 and 160 metres in height.

Each turbine will take up 1.5 hectares but, Tetris Energy said the livestock grazing there now will be able to graze at the base of the turbines as they operate.

The construction of the wind farm will create 150 jobs with a focus on local procurement.

“Excitingly, we have already received interest from local tradespeople about possible employment and will continue to take expressions of interest," said Ms Garland.

Once the construction phase of the project is complete there will be 12 jobs at the site on an ongoing basis over the course of the wind farm’s 35 year life span.

Tetris Energy is a signatory of the Clean Energy Council’s Best Practice Charter and that the organisation says that they take community concerns regarding decommissioning seriously.

They say the decommissioning of a site sees turbines, offices and any other infrastructure removed while roads and foundation pads are covered and the areas revegetated.

The size of the concrete footings at the base of each turbine varies dependent on the source.

A practical assessment by icubed consulting, a team of Australian wind farm engineers and designers, states a small and lightly reinforced turbine foundation needs to be 20 metres in diameter, constructed from 500 cubic metres of concrete poured around steel reinforcement, weighing 60 tonnes in total.

This is a conservative estimate; other sources say foundations need to be twice the quoted size and up to three times the quoted weight to support modern turbines.

When questioned about what benefit the Puzzle Range wind farm will bring the region, Tetris Energy had much to say but, given the early stage the project is at, they were not wedded to any one idea.

“Early conversations with local community members have provided a range of insightful suggestions,” Ms Garland said.

“Including sharing revenue from a turbine in nearest proximity to each community for local initiatives such as sporting, landcare and community groups.

“Tetris Energy’s view on what benefit sharing looks like from Puzzle Range is open, and could include building local capacity, improving access to social services and infrastructure, livelihood development and skills transfer.

“Tetris Energy aspires to provide local communities with free or discounted electricity, and would love to see the broader region powered by clean energy.

“Given the Puzzle Range project is still in its infancy the Tetris Energy team have not yet had the detailed conversations with the community that will be required to inform the specific benefit sharing approach, and we expect this to commence later in 2025.”

Cindy McLeish, State Member for Eildon, has called for transparency from Tetris Energy.

“More information needs to be provided so that people know exactly what is happening in their own backyard,” she said.

“Community members are always going to be concerned with a project like this and understandably so, there will be different views within the community.”

Andrew Paxton, Director Community and Development Murrindindi Shire Council, echoed that call by requesting that Tetris Energy engages with both Murrindini and Mansfield Shire councils

“We have not been consulted by Tetris Energy and do not yet have specific details about the project.

“Council encourages Tetris Energy to engage meaningfully with both councils and the local community, ensuring transparency, ethical engagement, and responsiveness to community concerns.

“Building trust and securing genuine community support is essential for any large-scale development.”

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie, speaking on behalf of Mansfield Shire Council, said council had received no information that would support an advocacy position being considered.

“Council is not the responsible authority for new planning permit applications for wind energy generation facilities of 1 megawatt or greater,” he said.

“The Victorian State Government assesses permits with the Minister for Planning being the responsible authority for these applications.

“Council will await the outcome of the application to the state government.

“If community members are concerned, council will continue to advocate on the community’s behalf.”