Data Requirements ~ New England

Community Wind Farm Study

Purpose & Introduction
This Data Requirements Briefing outlines the major sources of data that will be
recorded and reported for the Study into the establishment of a wind farm co-
operative in the New England Tablelands.

There are broadly two levels to the documentation and communication outputs
from the Study:
1. A final report addressing all agreed outcomes and detailing the work
undertaken and other key highlights. While this document is a key resource it
is expected to largely be used by an elite and highly engaged audience;
2. A range of innovative digital stories to package and present information for
the wider range of audiences and stakeholders involved, particularly to
meet the goal of assisting the development, membership and marketing of
similar community co-operatives throughout other NSW Renewable Energy
Precincts.

Final Report & Recommendations

Will identify and address the following in respect of a community wind farm:
• Potential for participation by landholders, local residents and partners –
including details of the nature of the various forums, meetings and
participants – and relevant alignment or synergies with existing stakeholder
strategies and plans;
• Risks at all levels from pre-planning approval through to construction &
operational life;
• Key issues, guidelines and design principles;
• Identify opportunities and best vehicles for raising investment and
development funds;
• Outline most appropriate co-operative structures for the venture;
• Recommendations and protocols that can assist the development,
membership, marketing of similar community co-ops in other NSW
renewable energy precincts;
• Detail any legislative, regulatory, programs at a State, Federal & Local
Government level that are relevant; and,
• In order to support its findings and assist in undertaking pre-feasibility studies
in other renewable energy precincts, the final report will also include:
• details of the methodology;
• discussion of the preferred type of co-operative and the reasons for its
selection;
• assessment of any limitations and uncertainties of the study;

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Data Requirements ~ New England
Community Wind Farm Study
• references and links to other models, reports and studies (governance,
legal, financial or technical as relevant), both Australian and
International.

This report will include dialogue maps to more provide a richer representation of
the stakeholder research outcomes, as well as some photographs.

DECCW
The NSW Department of Environment Climate Change & Water (DECCW) are also
working on:
• Measures to enable the establishment of community co-operatives to
participate and invest in the development and operation of wind energy
projects are being scoped as part of the wind precinct initiative;
• A Community Co-operative Handbook.

DECCW will work with the successful consultant to provide further direction and
relevant information, including prior studies of community based wind power
generation and background information (such as the energy map/footprint for the
region).

This information will be incorporated into the Final Report & Recommendations.

Innovative Edge ~ Digital Stories & Documentation

Digital story documentation of this historic work is an innovative additional tool and
resource for public communication, marketing and knowledge transfer with other
interested communities and stakeholders.

It is envisaged that the digital stories will include photographs, video, interviews
and dialogue mappings.

The digital media will be published into:

• A3 summaries with key points of discussion, outcomes and photographs;
• Web-based 'place stories' including video, photo essays and written
materials;
• A final digital story which presents the entire Feasibility Study (ie aspects of all
major meetings, forums and processes).

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Data Requirements ~ New England
Community Wind Farm Study
For reference see below hyperlinks to similar work undertaken by Starfish:
• New England Sustainability Strategy Public Forum Documentary
• Sudan to Tamworth Documentary

These tools will be used both as a reporting back mechanisms for the stakeholders
involved with each meeting, and as such enable them to engage their networks,
as well as be readily available for others further afield.

For example, landholders in another Precinct Committee area may be especially

interested to watch the digital story of the landholder dialogue. With this entree
they may be engaged to wish to read the written reports and perhaps the Final
Report.

The inclusion of these innovative communication streams and tools is one of the
reasons why the Creative Commons licensing is such an important matter of
intellectual property.

Intellectual Property & Creative Commons

A form of Creative Commons license will be used o best protect DECCW's interests
and needs while also making information widely available to the intended
stakeholders and audiences.

Embark have expressed an 'in principle' willingness to support the development of

this Creative Commons legal framework as part of their Partner contribution,
building upon similar work they are already doing to replicate the success of the
Hepburn Wind Farm.

This form of agreement will be aligned with the core purpose of the study, namely
to support the development of community wind energy projects in the New
England and wider NSW beyond.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Adam Blakester
Chair & Co-Founder
adam@starfishenterprises.org
m +61 (0)419 808 900 | t +61 (0)2 6775 2501 | skype adam.f.blakester

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