Environmental impacts

The proposed wind-plant would be a huge industrial complex in the middle of a rural residential area, adjacent to the Googong Dam and Molonglo River catchments and a number of wildlife refuges. The wind-plant will be visible from the heritage-listed London Bridge homestead complex.

Risking the water catchment

The wind-plant would be sited in the middle of the Queanbeyan River catchment area and the Molonglo river catchment area. This area includes the Googong Dam, Canberra and Queanbeyan's main water supply.

Construction of access roads, footings, and other infrastructure will cause soil disturbance and is likely to cause erosion which will affect run-off into these catchments.

Turbines and electricity sub-stations contain coolants and oils which may leak into the surrounding water courses.

Pictured: The south west ridge of the Molonglo Ridge, part of the Googong Dam catchment. This photograph was taken from the northern foreshores. EHN are proposing to build seven turbines on this ridge. [Click on image for an enlarged view]

Googong Foreshores

The Googong Foreshores incorporates the historic London Bridge Homestead, the Limestone Arch as well as the Googong Dam itself. The foreshores is part of an important wildlife corridor between the Tinderry Mountains and Lake George. It is home to some uncommon or rare species of plants, animals and birdlife.

The area offers various recreational activities such as bird watching, bushwalking, fishing, picnics and barbeques. There are several walking trails of varying lengths and grades.

The London Bridge Homestead complex is listed on the Register of the National Estate. It buildings date back to 1870. In the Statement of Significance on the register, the entry says that "the group is well sited in an appropriate pastoral landscape". It is hard to imagine how a wind farm towering over the site could be sympathetic to the historical and cultural values of the site.

One of the main attractions of the area is the unspoilt views from the recreation areas. The proposed wind-plant will be seen and heard from the recreation areas, imposing a blot on the natural landscape.

Pictured: This photo-montage shows the visual impact of the wind farm on the London Bridge arch and heritage-listed London Bridge Homestead complex. The photograph shows the size and location of the wind turbines, except that there are seven planned for this ridge, not six as depicted. [Click on image for an enlarged view]

Last Updated: 13 December, 2008