Folly of despoiling state’s landscape
The Age, www.theage.com.au 14 August 2010
John Brumby may think he is backing a winner by approving another wind farm, with 140 massive turbines to be imposed on a beautiful part of the western district (”South-west wind farm the biggest”, The Age, 13/8).
He is wrong. The industrialisation of Victoria’s beautiful landscape – including scenic areas of high tourism value such as Cape Bridgewater and Wilson’s Promontory – is causing increasing disquiet.
People are beginning to understand the negative impact on communities and our heritage that these turbines have, which is only possible because of huge taxpayer-funded subsidies. It is effectively a transfer of wealth to a handful of power companies and entrepreneurs.
The $100,000 “Macarthur Wind Farm Community Fund” will be seen for what it is: an attempt to bribe the community into accepting the destruction of aesthetic values. Wind as a source of renewable energy is notoriously inefficient and will make a minuscule impact in cutting emissions.
As power bills soar and Victoria’s beautiful landscape is changed forever, the Premier may well reflect on the folly of such announcements.
Nigel Henham, Albert Park
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/14/folly-of-despoiling-states-landscape/