Wind farm snub tipped to spark test case  

Credit:  ABC News | www.abc.net.au 20 August 2012 ~~

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says the rejection of a South Australian wind farm will have implications for a proposed development in the South Burnett.

AGL is planning to build about 115 turbines in the Cooranga North area but is facing resistance from some residents who are concerned about the noise.

Senator Xenophon says a South Australian council recently rejected a development for the Stony Gap area on similar grounds.

“That itself will bring on a massive test case on wind farms which will include, as I understand it, a lot of evidence being called on scientific and health evidence,” he said.

“This is something that’s long overdue and the implications of the Stony Gap decision could well stretch across every state.

“There’s some big issue here about approval process and also the potential impacts on residents.”

He says there needs to be a national approach to regulating wind farm developments.

“I think you’ll find that there will be [a] national push for greater clarify in relation to wind farms, as there should be, because effectively wind farms exist by virtue of the renewable energy certificate scheme which is a Federal Government piece of legislation,” he said.