August 12, 2010
Australia

Nimmitabel wind farm opponents continue fight

Chris Reeves, Cooma-Monaro Express, www.coomaexpress.com.au 12 August 2010

Opponents of the Boco Rock wind farm at Nimmitabel are disappointed it has received state government approval and are determined to continue their opposition in the hope that “common sense” wins out.

Jim Litchfield of local anti-wind farm group REAL Monaro (Reduced Emissions and Landscape for Monaro), who has campaigned strongly over the proposal, said the project had been rubber stamped.

He said the developer, Wind Prospect CWP, had made some concessions to ease the concerns of local residents and landholders.

“They have compromised and listened to concerns and adjusted the project to lessen the impact but it has been marginal,” he said.

While positive outcomes had been achieved for some people, REAL Monaro believes not all of the community’s concerns had been met.

Wind Prospect CWP’s development director Ed Mounsey maintains any concerns had been worked through during the assessment process conducted by the NSW Department of Planning.

Due to the isolated location of the proposed wind farm – about six kilometres from Nimmitabel – there were only two non-involved houses within a three kilometre radius of the nearest turbine.

The wind farm will cost $700 million to build, providing 200 construction jobs and 15 ongoing positions.

It will have up to 122 turbines and start producing electricity in 2012 and be fully operational in 2013.

Mr Litchfield said the REAL Monaro group had concerns about the impact of the wind farm on the landscape.

“The best outcome would be to see the project abandoned,” he said.

“We will continue to put forward our case and hope that commonsense prevails.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/12/nimmitabel-wind-farm-opponents-continue-fight/