Interest grows in Smeaton wind farm
The Tuki Wind Farm could see more than 50 turbines across the Smeaton landscape — well up on the original 19 proposed for the area.
Wind Power engineer and community consultant Ross Richards said this week that the wind farm, named because it would include turbines on the Tuki Trout Farm, had received plenty of interest from land owners keen to be involved.
Mr Richards said the company was now waiting until the Victorian Government finalised legislation relating to the emissions trading scheme later this year.
Currently two per cent of energy in Victoria must come from renewable energy and, while it has been flagged to increase to 10 per cent, “we don’t know for certain if that will be the case” he said.
“When we go looking for investors we need to know what the future holds,” Mr Richards said.
However, residents opposed to the scheme say Wind Power should either put up a planning application for the wind farm, or leave the area in peace.
The Spa Country Guardians, a group of residents mostly living within five kilometres of the proposed wind farm, said the issue was dividing the community — and even families.
Spokesman David Sewell said the wind farm had first been mooted 18 months ago but there was still no planning application before Hepburn Shire Council.
“It’s gone on too long,” he said. “It’s incredibly stressful but it is very important that we keep fighting this.”
Mr Sewell said the group believed Smeaton had not proven as windy as first believed — and needed — by the company.
“But they have lost their battles in two communities already, Clarkes Hill and Bo Peep, and don’t want another loss,” Mr Sewell said.
The group also believed if Wind Power did put forward a planning application to Hepburn Shire Council it could be fought on the basis of the area being a significant volcanic landscape.
“But there is still nothing before the council,” he said.
Spa Country Guardians member Leighton Evans said the group’s concerns also included: misinformation that wind farms would cancel out coal-fired power stations; there were no plans in place for decommissioning of the wind turbines; and the possibility of bush fires caused by the turbines.
Mr Evans said the group had continually asked to meet with the directors of Wind Power but only ever met “the PR person”.
Another resident Bronwyn Taylor, who has bought land closest to where the turbines would be located but has put plans to build a house on hold, said it was time Australia looked to solar power for its renewable energy.
“Wind farms are all about the dollar — they are not doing the right thing for the environment,” she said.
“People in cities want to do the right thing, like solar, but they can’t afford to so they buy `green power’ to ease their conscience.”
By Donna Kelly
2 September 2008
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