November 17, 2010
Australia

Tower just testing – at the moment

by Barry Kennedy, Macedon Ranges Leader, macedon-ranges-leader.whereilive.com.au/ 18 November 2010

Gisborne-based West Wind Energy has confirmed it has been doing monitoring from a 10m tower on a Red Rock property in South Gisborne’s Dalrymple Rd.

But chief executive Tobias Geiger said the testing that began in March this year was just one of several wind monitoring sites in the Macedon Ranges and Central Victoria aimed at building a wind map of the region. “At best there is a 20 per cent chance we will investigate further at the site, so at this stage our investigations are pre-feasibility stage,” he said.

No planning permit is needed for a temporary wind tower on private property, and Mr Geiger said it wouldn’t be until at least 18 months before there would be sufficient data to decide on whether to take investigations further.

Residents near Red Rock have called an information evening next Tuesday, November 23 to discuss their concerns.

Todd Andrews said he and his family moved to South Gisborne in February but would not have done so with the prospect of a wind farm nearby.

“A wind farm would destroy property values here and would trash a Gisborne landmark which is home to a pair of wedge-tailed eagles,” he said.

“There is a Red Rock cafe and Red Rock Christian College – it’s part of Gisborne – but we could be the site of a new wind farm.”

Mr Andrews said the company had not been upfront with residents.

Mr Geiger said concerned residents regularly confronted him about plans but so far there was little to share from testing.

Earlier this month West Wind Energy won state approval for a 107-turbine wind farm at Mt Wallace in Moorabool Shire.

Next Tuesday’s information session is at Sunbury Aquatic and Leisure Centre’s Blue Room at 7pm. Details: nosunburywind farm@hotmail.com

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/17/tower-just-testing-at-the-moment/