March 13, 2008
Australia
Australia
Opponents of a wind farm planned for the Waterloo Range on the western side of the Furracabad Valley have notched up their campaign, and will take their cause direct to the NSW Parliament.
Grouping themselves as the Glen Innes Landscape Guardians Inc, the group has started a petition against the proposal, which would see between 22 and 27 wind turbines erected on a ridgeline of a valley.
“Our aim is to prevent the proposed wind farm on the Waterloo Range,” spokesperson Dr Ashley Peake said.
“We’ve begun door knocking up the valley and there is a lot of support for our cause from residents concerned that the development is inappropriately sited and will have a serious impact on residents’ quality of life,” Dr Peake said.
The main concerns of residents include noise and visual impact during construction and operation; the effect of shadow and flicker light and electromagnetic interference with television and mobile phone reception; reduced property values; impact on agricultural enterprises particularly aerial application of fertiliser, proximity to a number a houses and environmental risks to birds and wildlife.
Distribution of the petition began on the weekend with Furracabad valley resident Steven Lynn the first to sign.
“It’s a beautiful valley and it shouldn’t be ruined. We’ll definitely be able to see many of the turbines from our place, we can see the two test towers,” Mr Lynn said.
“While we don’t know for sure, we believe we may also be affected by the noise of the turbines as well.
“It will affect everyone’s property values for sure, but most of us aren’t going to get any financial benefit from them; we’ll just get all the negatives,” he said.
E For details about the petition ring Suzanne McAlary on 6732 4058.
By Tim Hughes
13 March 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/13/residents-to-petition/