Wind whistles up the gully behind Charlie Prell to the ridge, one of several ideal sites where he plans to install electricity- generating wind turbines on his Crookwell property, ‘Gundowringa’.

The creek behind him feeds Goulburn’s water supply - just in front of him the headwaters of the Pejar Dam begin to spread out.

On an adjoining property, a small operation built about 10 years ago, called the Crookwell Wind Farm, alerted the Prell family to the possibility that their land may also be a good site; it has eight turbines, generating just over five megawatts capacity.

For Mr Prell and his cousin David, also on a property adjacent, an eight year planning process is yet to result in the construction of their own turbines but they’re poised, with the expectation that NSW will follow Victoria and South Australia with mandated renewable energy targets.

Submitting his development application in mid 2004, he sought permission for 110 megawatts capacity and almost a year later, with 112 conditions attached, received approval for reduced capacity to 94 Mw, for what will be known as the Crookwell 2 Wind Farm.

"Don’t be in a hurry," he said. "A wind farm is a long-term asset that needs careful consideration."

"My motivations were to droughtproof my farm, to contribute to reducing carbon emissions and to encourage investment in a rural region," Mr Prell said.

Numerous companies, nearly all of them wind farm brokers (agents in rural parlance), sought in 2000 and 2001 to sign an exclusive agreement with them.

"The anti wind farm lobby poopoos brokers but they have the experience and corporate knowledge to put the deal together," he said.

"Farmers don’t sell lambs or wool to processors, it’s the same situation here - my advice is go with a broker but do your homework, shop around and don’t believe everything they say."

"We eventually signed a full leasing agreement with Eraring Energy, TME, and Gamesa in a joint venture in January 2004, for them to negotiate a connection agreement with Transgrid and a power purchase agreement with electricity retailers."

For any of the 70 participants at NSW Department of Primary Industries’ recent Climate Change forum in Goulburn who might have been thinking about following his lead, Mr Prell had some advice on opportunity costs and comparable sustainability of traditional enterprises.

"Whilst there are no subsidies available for wind farms," he said, "assess it against the long-term environmental sustainability of your farm under a long-term reduction in rainfall and increased temperatures".

Mr Prell has offered his experience at no cost, to help other farmers who want to explore the options.

"Windfarms are divisive," he acknowledges, "but it’s mostly based on emotion and myth about visual and noise impact rather than fact".

He has already cut out of his plan five turbines which his neighbours would have seen.

"I’m one of the few in our shire who has been to see a real wind farm, and suggest others should have a look in Victoria and South Australia."

Contact Charlie Prell, (02) 4848 1244, cprell@wirefree.net.au