November 2, 2010
Australia

Lights out at wind farm

Crookwell Gazette, www.crookwellgazette.com.au 1 November 2010

The aviation lighting on the towers at the Cullerin Range wind farm were switched off yesterday, November 1.

There have been numerous complaints from people around the wind farm about the lights, which they claimed were intrusive.

In a letter to Upper Lachlan Mayor Cr. John Shaw, Ms Kathy Howard, Community Relations Advisor for Origin Energy, said that the lighting had initially been installed following guidance set out in the Draft Advisory Circular prepared by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on Obstacle Marking and Lighting of Wind Farms.

This had since been withdrawn by CASA.

“Since the commencement of operation of the wind farm, Origin has received feedback from the community that they were not supportive of the lighting and requested that the aviation lights be switched off,” said Ms Howard.

“We listened to the feedback from the community and decided to look into what we could do about the lighting,” said Kathy.

“In response to the community’s request, Origin engaged the Ambidji Group (a specialist aviation consultant) to conduct a risk-based assessment regarding future requirements for aviation lighting at the wind farm.”

This assessment concluded there were no CASA regulatory requirements for the lighting, and that based on safety and risk assessment there was no need for the wind farm to continue with the lighting.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/02/lights-out-at-wind-farm/