Global Wind Day

June 30, 2011

The 15th June was Global Wind Day. This industry sponsored initiative saw coordinated public events and open days take place, accompanied with glowing propaganda pieces paying homage to these supposedly gleaming tributes to a low-carbon economy. One of these events took place in the electorate of Hume at one the Prime Minister’s favourite photo-spots, the Capital Wind Farm at Bungendore.

Visitors were no-doubt impressed by the sheer scale of the wind turbines and the assurances by the project managers that they will not only clean up our atmosphere; but that they might also clean our environmental consciences.

But on Global Wind Day there were other, less public developments in this ongoing battle. A neighbour of the Capital Wind Farm, Mrs Ruth Corrigan held her own open day at her house in Tarago. As reported in The Australia on the 15th of June 2011, Mrs Corrigan is worried about the serious health affects, such as chronic sleep disruption, that wind turbine companies and the Government have failed to adequately investigate.

When I first reported this serious issue to the Parliament last month I called on the new O’Farrell/Stoner Coalition government in New South Wales to implement an immediate moratorium on all wind turbine development, with the possibility of a full Public Inquiry.

Since that speech, I have been inundated with correspondence from landholders who have been affected poorly regulated wind turbine development.

Not a week goes by where local media outlets such as the Yass Tribune, the Goulburn Post and the Boorowa News aren’t reporting the community divisions and concern relating to the ongoing debate about the proposed 730 wind turbine projects planned within a 90km radius of Goulburn.

The NSW Government should immediately halt further wind turbine planning, approvals and development in NSW pending the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into this industry. Upon completion of the Inquiry the Government should then implement any recommendations by creating new regulations and guidelines enacted in legislation.
We have something akin to best-practice already in place in Victoria. For example, the NSW Government should be following the Victorian Liberal Government’s lead and enforce a minimum 2km buffer zone between wind turbines and residential properties.
There are seven action items that need to be addressed and implemented in order to bring the Wind energy industry in line with community expectations and standards:

1. An immediate moratorium must be imposed on all further development applications, including those submitted but not approved

2. Similar to the moratorium place upon mining exploration, once the moratorium is lifted, proponents must be required to scientifically prove the validity of their application (emission reductions), the overall impact to consumers (power price increases) and that their development will have no impact on surrounding properties and communities (Health, Wealth and Environmental)

3. State planning application fees must be reintroduced for “Wind Farm” applications

4. Wind Turbines must no longer be defined as “Critical Infrastructure”

5. All future developments must be accompanied by Health and Property Valuation guarantees

6. All future developments must be accompanied by a AAA rated Government bond for the purpose of ensuring compliant decommissioning in line with manufacturers requirements

7. All developments must comply with existing building codes/laws, including the requirements of Work Cover

Implementation of these seven points by Government at all levels forms the necessary foundations for future development of the wind energy industry in regional New South Wales.

The wind energy industry, as well as Government at all levels should take heed - I will not cease to advocate for the protection of the property rights of individual landholders in my electorate until an immediate moratorium is called and these seven points I have advocated are  appropriately addressed.

As this debate continues, I am interested in hearing your views and to that end I encourage you to have your say by commenting below or contacting my office.