The $2 million 80m-high turbine will be built at Mt Herschel, near the salt lakes at Geordie Bay. The State and Federal Governments have each contributed $1 million to the project.

The Commonwealth Government's Renewable Remote Power Generation Program provides funding to States for the installation of renewable energy projects in remote parts of Australia not connected to the main electricity grids.

Mr Brown said the new wind turbine was expected to meet about a third of the island's power needs and save about 380,000 litres in diesel each year. "This saving will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 940 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year," he said.

The Minister said the wind turbine would not only reduce the reliance of Rottnest Island on diesel for its power generation but would also reduce reliance on limited water sources (rain and groundwater) by helping power the island's reverse osmosis desalination plant.

"It also reduces the need to transport and deliver diesel from the mainland to the island," Mr Brown said.

A community consultation period conducted in 2001 showed significant community support for the construction of a wind turbine at Mt Herschel, with 95 per cent of respondents supporting the proposal.

"Many Western Australians foresaw the environmental and economic benefits of constructing a wind turbine on the island, and also its potential from a tourism and interpretation perspective," the Minister said.

The Rottnest Island Authority will call for tenders shortly for the installation of the wind turbine. Construction is expected to start in mid-2003.

The Rottnest Island wind turbine will be the fifth largest wind power project to be built in WA (the largest in order: Albany; New Esperance; Old Esperance; and Denham).