East Narrogin Neighbourhood Collective slams Lightsource BP 250MW windfarm project with community concerns

Almost 100 residents in east Narrogin have banded together to call for transparency on a “monstrous” windfarm project forecast to sit in the centre of their residential area. The East Narrogin Neighbourhood Collective — comprising 88 residents — formed in August to fight the Lightsource BP-led 250MW windfarm project, set to be located between Williams Kondinin Road and Yilliminning Road. The project involves constructing 36 turbines — the tallest flagged to reach a height of 240m — on four properties, with a 1.5km minimum distance from neighbours. It also includes 150MW of solar energy and a 200MW battery energy storage system. Collective member Marion Price said the group was not against renewable energy, but members were terrified of having the turbines so close to their homes. Lightsource BB was drawn to the location because of existing transmission lines, land suitability, and distance from protected areas. Ms Price said the collective was created to promote transparent communication between developers, hosts, neighbours, and the community — a factor the group believes has been missing thus far. “We want openness, we want information, we want answers,” she said. “It is really important that all aspects of this proposed project are to be discussed with everyone due to the impacts on our future.” The collective held a meeting on September 25 attended by members, farmers and local government representatives, emergency service volunteers, and Ford Aviation, which specialises in spraying crops. Major concerns brought to light included fire safety, noise, heath impacts, property value, neighbourhood friendships, and the destruction of the view and natural flora and fauna. Farmer and collective member Braden Lange — who relied on aerial support to protect his home during the devastating 2022 Narrogin-Wickepin fire — said he feared waterbombers would not be able to access the area because of the “freaking monstrous” turbines. Aerial support can access fires near turbines, but a safety assessment must be completed before deployment, according to the Clean Energy Council. Mr Lange said the wait time could have fatal consequences when there were fast-moving paddock fires, and it was risky for pilots in heavy smoke. Ms Price said a visit to Flat Rocks Windfarm, 30km south-west of Kojonup, reinforced the group’s concerns, saying they were told by neighbours turbines could be clearly heard throughout the week and they often needed ear plugs to sleep. The group’s other concerns included health impacts resulting from the noise — specifically low-frequency infrasound, shadow flicker and electromagnetic fields, which it claims cause headaches, ear pressure and sleep disturbance. There is no solid evidence to prove turbines will negatively affect a person’s health. Ms Price believes neighbourhood benefit schemes involving financial compensation and community grants successfully initiated in the shires of Merredin and Williams would not not work in Narrogin because of its larger size. Mr Lange said money would not justify what people were losing. “You can’t buy me,” he said. Ms Price said she hoped the collective could help improve communication between concerned residents and the developers, as well as those in surrounding areas, as the group feared the project could cause a breakdown in community relationships. “The bottom line is we care about our friends living in Narrogin, our families surrounding. We want them to know what’s going on too,” she said. “Our situation is unique. We don’t want the turbines in our area, end of story.” A Lightsource BP spokesperson said the project was still in its development stage and all the collective’s concerns — including biodiversity protection, noise, visual impact, bushfire management, and community benefits — would be addressed in the planning process and assessed by consultants. They said plans to establish a community benefit program to support long‑term local priorities such as schools, emergency services, community facilities and projects, and to source local contractors and workforce were under way. “One way we work towards this is by seeking opportunities to share project benefits with the wider community, such as through dedicated community benefit programs and local partnership initiatives,” the spokesperson said. “We will also ensure we provide opportunities for community members to contribute meaningfully to the project design.” The spokesperson said Lightsource BP had begun early engagement with the community, which would expand significantly in 2026 as the project developed, giving everyone an opportunity to lodge their concerns. They said the project would incorporate feedback where appropriate and the proponents would continue meeting with the community to discuss design and details before finalisation.