September 23, 2010
Australia

Health concerns over Beetaloo Valley

Dylan Smith, The Flinders News, www.theflindersnews.com.au 23 September 2010

Beetaloo Valley residents are concerned about the potential health effects from a wind farm that could be overlooking their homes.

The Collaby Hill Wind Farm Action Group held a meeting in Port Pirie to discuss their concerns with Origin Energy and a representative from Commissioner for Renewable Energy.

The group’s spokeswoman Anne Beinke said one of their main worries was the possible location of the turbines.

“We have concerns that the State Government is not funding an independent study into the effects from wind farms,” she said.

“They leave it up to a set of inadequate guidelines.” Hallett resident Andy Thomas lives about one kilometre away from a wind turbine and has suffered severely.

“With wind turbines, I am not against the idea it just needs to be researched,” he said.

“Twelve turbines impact on my home, and I often get a dull headache.”

He suggested that turbines be at least five kilometres from any home.

“I get decibel readings of 104 to 106 outside of my home,” he said.

“One day I had 70 decibels in my bedroom.”

Mr Thomas said the noise levels had caused him many problems.

“You get the big swing of the blade and the whirr from the motor,” he said.

Beetaloo Valley resident Sarah Laurie said their was an urgent need for studies into the health effects from wind farms and asked Origin’s National Development Manager Kyle Russell if they would support independent acoustic studies.

Mr Russell said they had a strong interest in making sure any modeling was correct.

“Our company has a strong focus on renewable energy,” he said.

“This region is one of the best wind resources by Australian and world standards.” He said their concept was at a late assessment and early design stage.

“Construction activity is unlikely until mid-2013,” he said.

“We do not how many turbines there could be or where they could be located.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/23/health-concerns-over-beetaloo-valley/