November 9, 2010
Australia

Sandwiched by turbines in Mt Wallace

BY NEELIMA CHOAHAN, Melton Weekly, www.meltonweekly.com.au 9 November 2010

Mount Wallace resident Janene Skidmore says the approval of two wind farms on Moorabool’s fringe means the home she shares with her elderly mother will be sandwiched by noisy turbines.

The state government announced its approval of the controversial projects last week.

It says the wind farms will provide jobs and clean energy, but Moorabool mayor Pat Toohey believes the concerns of residents have been ignored.

The Moorabool wind farm will have 107 turbines, while the Yaloak South farm will feature 14 turbines.

The projects will cost $880million, powering 136,400 homes and creating 260 jobs during construction.

There will be 34 ongoing jobs once the projects are completed.

Ms Skidmore, who is a full-time carer for her 77-year-old mother, says the closest turbine will be just 800metres from their home.

“My house is right in the centre of the two,” she said.

“It will be too noisy. I suffer from vertigo and my mother has high blood pressure. The wind farms are going to cause me trouble.”

But Ms Skidmore said she wouldn’t consider moving from the house, which her late father bought in 1982. “Why should we leave? The wind farms should go.”

Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the projects would bolster regional Victoria and provide clean and sustainable energy.

“These decisions support regional development and renewable energy in the right locations to achieve a more sustainable future for Victoria,” he said.

But Cr Toohey accused the state government of being on a quest for Green votes and said it had failed to listen to community concerns.

“The state government, the premier and the planning minister are happy to extinguish the people’s rights,” he said.

“It’s like, ‘OK, they are in the sacrifice zone’.”

Cr Toohey said the close proximity of the wind farms to homes was of significant concern.

“There is also the impact on flora and fauna, especially on the wedge-tail eagle, and how many will be chopped up each year.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/09/sandwiched-by-turbines-in-mt-wallace/