News Archive – July to December 2005

In this section:

• Federal Environment Minister seeks National guidelines on siting windfarms (Dec 2005)
• Is the wind industry a "feckless, burping juggernaut"? (Dec 2005)
• Federal Government considers windfarm planning code to protect communities (Nov 2005)
• EHN deny access to the ridges (Aug 2005)
• New NSW Planning Minister announced (Aug 2005)
• Victorian Government rejects windfarm (July 2005)

See also: News Archive – January to December 2006

17 December 2005

Federal Environment Minister seeks National guidelines on siting windfarms

In response to growing concern about the approval of wind farms by State Governments against the wishes of local communities (see news item from 15 November 2005), the Federal Environment Minister, the Hon Senator Ian Campbell, has written to State Environment Ministers to propose an agreement to development of a national code for the location of wind farms.

Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Minister

I am writing to you and to other State and Territory governments to propose an agreement to development of a national code for the location of wind farms. A key component of this code should be an agreement that wind farms not be constructed against the wishes of the local community that will be most affected .

I am most concerned that members of local communities are often being given only limited involvement in determining if a wind farm is to be established in their area. While wind technology is a part of the portfolio of power sources that the world needs to combat greenhouse gas emissions, it is vital that local communities, including those in often sensitive and scenic coastal areas, do not have wind farms thrust upon them. If such action continues to be taken it will make wind farms increasingly unpopular and this will create an animosity towards wind energy and be counterproductive to all our interests. I believe that we need a truly inclusive and consultative local planning process.

As you would be aware, the EPBC Act currently allows me to regulate to define specified actions as requiring referral under the Act. Because I am so concerned about the growth in negative sentiment toward wind energy which is occurring as wind farms are established against the expressed views of the democratically elected councils, I am considering making a new regulation under the EPBC Act in relation to wind farms. This regulation would require all proposed wind farms to be referred under the EPBC Act.

As you know, economic and social factors such as the views of local councils and their communities would be relevant considerations in any decision I make to approve a wind farm following assessment. I would certainly be reluctant to approve a wind farm in the face of clear local opposition expressed through votes of shires of councils.

I also intend to examine my programmes to consider future funding arrangements for those wind projects that are clearly against the expressed wishes of the local community.

Yours sincerely

IAN CAMPBELL

2 December 2005

Is the wind industry a "feckless, burping juggernaut"?

In a heartfelt speech during the Adjournment debate in the Federal Parliament, Russell Broadbent MP, said that he would "never offer South Gippsland as the sacrificial lamb to the gargantuan appetite of the feckless, burping juggernaut that the wind industry is".

Broadbent's electorate of McMillan includes the spectacular South Gippsland ranges and coastline which are under threat from several proposed wind farms. The electorate also includes the township of Toora which now has 12 noisy turbines scarring the countryside (see PromCoast Guardians website for more information).

In the speech Broadbent, a long-time critic and opponent of the wind industy's tactics, highlighted aspects of a letter sent from the Federal Environment Minister to all State Environment Ministers seeking agreement in the development of a national code for the siting of wind farms.

Here is the full text of the Broadbent's speech from 30 November 2005, or read it in the Australian Parliament's Hansard:

ADJOURNMENT
Wind Energy Speech

Mr BROADBENT ( McMillan ) (7.44 p.m.)—In today's Melbourne Herald Sun under the heading ‘Wind won't replace coal', Craig Falconer wrote:

No matter how many wind turbines the Bracks Government wants to disfigure the state with, we are still going to require coal-fired power stations to run in spinning reserve.

At the recent hearing in Foster about the proposed Dollar wind energy site, an expert said 20,000 turbines would not reduce the amount of coal being burnt today.

The wind industry doesn't want people to know this and now they're trying to stop people from South Gippsland appearing at the Macarthur wind energy hearing.

All power to your arm, Craig Falconer from Dollar in South Gippsland. As a response to wind turbines being placed, even on the Molonglo Hills in this region, there is a lot of opposition to them. I am representing the opposition that is coming out of my electorate in South Gippsland. I am concerned for the amenity of the people and the preservation of the landscape. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, has been addressing this issue and he has written to Steve Bracks, and I am sure to the other state and territory leaders, proposing an agreement to develop a national code for the location of wind farms. He says:

A key component of this code should be an agreement that wind farms not be constructed against the wishes of the local community that will be most affected.

He continues:

I am most concerned that members of local communities are often being given only limited involvement in determining if a wind farm is to be established in the area. While wind technology is a part of the portfolio of power sources that the world needs to combat greenhouse gas emissions, it is vital that local communities, including those in often sensitive and scenic coastal areas—

that is what I am talking about—

do not have wind farms thrust upon them. If such action continues to be taken it will make wind farms increasingly unpopular and this will create animosity towards wind energy and be counterproductive to all our interests. I believe that we need a truly inclusive and consultative local planning process.

As you would be aware, the EPBC Act currently allows me to regulate to define specified actions as requiring referral under the Act. Because I am so concerned about the growth in negative sentiment toward wind energy which is occurring as wind farms are established against the express views of the democratically elected councils, I am considering making a new regulation under the EPBC Act in relation to wind farms. This regulation would require all proposed wind farms to be referred under the EPBC Act.

As you know, economic and social factors such as views of local councils and their communities would be relevant considerations in any decision I make to approve any wind farm following assessment. I would certainly be reluctant to approve a wind farm in the face of clear local opposition expressed through votes of shire councils.

I also intend to examine my programmes to consider future funding arrangements for those wind projects that are clearly against the expressed wishes of the local community.

There it is. I have called today for the Bracks government to accept the minister's opportunity and grab hold of this proposal for a national code for the location of wind farms.

I do not like wind turbines. I do not like what they do to the landscape and I find that they are an inefficient renewable energy proposal. In fact, I would go so far as to say I will never offer South Gippsland as the sacrificial lamb to the gargantuan appetite of the feckless, burping juggernaut that the wind industry is.

Interjection
Mr Sercombe —Did you write that?

Continue
Mr BROADBENT —I will not sacrifice the exquisite South Gippsland coastline on the altar of renewable energy. Yes, I wrote that. I will repeat it. I will not offer South Gippsland as the sacrificial lamb. I will not sacrifice the exquisite South Gippsland coastline on the altar of renewable energy. It is becoming a passion for me now that inappropriately placed wind turbine developments are industrial sites that are being placed close to our coastlines. They are not majestic to me; they are ugly. They are not the best form of renewable energy; they are inefficient. They disrupt power systems, as we have seen in New Zealand where they have virtually said, ‘This is driving us mad.' We have come to a time now where we have to be very careful about what we put up in this generation, live with for a generation and will take a generation to tear down. (Time expired)

15 November 2005

Federal Government considers windfarm planning code to protect communities

Federal Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, has announced that he is considering a planning code that would protect communities from having windfarm developments thrust upon them by State Governments.

Speaking at a public meeting called to oppose a windfarm proposal in Western Australia, Senator Campbell said that "thrusting wind farms on country towns was giving windpower a bad name".

As quoted in The Australian, Senator Campbell told the meeting wind energy could be an important part of reducing greenhouse gas reductions but this would not be achieved if communities strongly expressed their views about where wind turbines should be but were then overruled by state governments.

"I believe you can't have the sort of opposition to wind turbines and wind farms that we've had in Victoria, new opposition emerging in South Australia and now opposition in WA, if we genuinely want renewables to be part of our climate-change policy," he said. "We can't do it over the wishes of local communities, so we need, as governments, to address these issues seriously. Otherwise wind will get a bad name."

The approval for a controversial windfarm at Wilson Head near the township of Denmark was made by the WA planning minister, Alannah MacTiernan, overturning objections by the Denmark Shire Council and local residents.

More information from The Australian, Wind farm power struggle, 15 November 2005

August 2005

EHN deny access to the ridges

EHN have changed their minds about holding their long awaited Open Day on the site of the proposed windfarm on the Molonglo Ridge.

During their so-called "community consultion" rounds in December 2004, EHN's representatives said that the Open Day would be held on site.

In response to a MLG request for information about the wind-plant Open Days sent in May 2005, EHN said they never had any intention of holding the Open Days on site. EHN also said that the public will not be given access to the ridges because access is by way of four wheel drive vehicles on farm tracks, and it is much too dangerous. Since neighbours of the proposed wind farm all live on farms and regularly drive around their properties – sometimes in a 4WD! – EHN's concern for safety is touching, but unwarranted.

August 2005

New NSW Planning Minister announced

The Hon Frank Sartor MP has been appointed as NSW Minster for Planning following the resignation from Parliament of the former Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Craig Knowles.

Minister Sartor has been allocated responsibility for matters under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, including the approval of wind farms.

Minister Sartor's contact details are:

Hon Frank Sartor MP,
Minister for Planning
Level 31 Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place,
Sydney  NSW 2000

Fax (02) 92284711
Telephone (02) 9228 4700

office@sartor.minister.nsw.gov.au

July 2005

Victorian Government rejects windfarm

The Victorian State Government recently rejected a 70-turbine wind-plant at Yaloak, south of Ballan, because of the danger it would pose to wedge-tailed eagles who use the updraft from the ridges to soar and hunt.

The wind-plant was also rejected due to the prominence of the ridgeline and the consequent impact on visual amenity.

Victorian Planning Minister, Rob Hulls, said "The Bracks Government is committed to supporting renewable energy in the right location to achieve a more sustainable future for Victoria. However, wind farms need to be properly located to deliver sustainable outcomes for our natural environment, landscapes and rural communities"

More information from Minister Hull's media release (external link).

Related Links:

Latest News – 2007

News Archive – January to December 2006

• More Puff than Power (August 2006)
• Nemmco confirms: wind energy "displaces other forms of low-impact energy" (August 2006)
• What is the MRET? (June 2006)
• States reject national code for wind energy installations (June 2006)
• What's really driving the wind rush? (May 2006)
• Discussion paper for a National Code for Wind Farms released for comment (May 2006)
• Wind-turbine fire at South Australian Wind Plant (February 2006)

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