One took off in front of us, and it was harried by three magpies over the stubble.

It doesn't quite work as a metaphor for the Golden Plains wind farm - while a case brought by a handful of farmers to protect a population of brolgas is still in the Supreme Court, it's likely a federal permit will be granted - but it's still a fun thought.

CHECK OUT OUR MAP OF THE WIND TURBINE ACTIVITY AROUND BALLARAT:

Rokewood, population about 350, will soon be forested by no more than 220 state-of-the-art wind turbines over a space larger than the entire town of Ballarat.

It's in a lucky spot, in a windy, reasonably flat space right next to a high voltage power line that stretches across the state.

That lucky location led to the most jaw-dropping part of the project - the state government's permit allows for turbines no higher than 228 metres tall.

AT A GLANCE: WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

Out in Rokewood, the new community engagement officer, the friendly and bearded Geoff Adams, is at the wheel - it's fun to chat about geeky infrastructure projects as we go underneath the pylons and around to the edge of the project.

His job is to be the go-between for WestWind and everyone that'll live underneath the turbines, and it's a role he takes seriously.

"My personal take is that face-to-face is better than anything else - it's the ability to come and talk to people and see them, meet them in their homes and ask how're you going," he said.

He lives in Enfield, just up the road, and has a background working for the former Department of Sustainability and Environment and BREAZE.

"You always get a few people that are not as happy, but that's my job, to talk to people that are not as happy and let them speak, try to understand where they're coming from and what they want and need, and talk through stuff, to see if we can help or minimise the impacts," he explained.

There's a number of sweeteners for residents as well, like the ability to invest in turbines, and free household power, but the real question is whether they're ready for the forest of skyscrapers in their backyard.

Rokewood's Helena Kirby, who runs the general store and sits on Golden Plains Shire Council, said it was hard to tell at this point, because the planning work was ongoing.

"People don't know how it's going to impact us, but because we've got Mount Mercer, which is only 10km up the road, I think we've found people have accepted them because they've been on our doorstep for the last 10 years," she said.

"I think the benefits for the community are going to be great, and that's the big picture for everyone - at the end of the day, if we can get employment for the locals, that'd be the best outcome for the money generated by the wind farms."

Driving on from Rokewood, towards Skipton, the first signs of the new Stockyard Hill wind farm begin poking over the gentle rises much closer to town than expected.

This will also be a huge project, and the first of four segments is well-underway, and the first 10 turbines, out of a total of 149, are already up amongst the ancient volcanoes.

Giant reels of electrical cable wait by the side of the road to be strung up on the new power poles that cut through the paddocks.

One can see why a group of residents sought to immortalise the landscape in an art show, set to premiere next month, in the style of explorer-painter Eugene von Guerard.

The road trip continued up to Beaufort, tailed by a massive oversized truck, which had just delivered a component to the wind farm that morning.

It's when you turn back onto the Western Highway - we're now bound for all the work to the east - you start to get a sense of the scale of what's already up.

The Waubra wind farm, which has been spinning for years, dapples the landscape to your left on the way to Ballarat, then once past the city, the first signs of the Lal Lal project begin to emerge past Mt Warrenheip.

Turning south, there's a thrilling drive past the turbines up-close, and there's more every time you visit - it's worth going to the lookout over the Lal Lal reservoir to note exactly how the horizon's changing.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE RESERVOIR? CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY:

Even further east, Moorabool North, near Mount Wallace, is putting up its first turbines - there's now three up, as almost two hundred contractors swarm the site.

Stopping off in Elaine, where the second part of Lal Lal is just getting underway, the high voltage lines that hook up to the terminal station north of the town are ready to roll.

That's the crucial point of the road trip exercise - it's not just the hundred metre-plus turbines that will be visible, but it's the power lines, terminal and battery stations, and hundreds of kilometres of access tracks that are emerging.

It's still going to be quite a change for residents used to rolling hills and eagles fighting magpies.

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