March 4, 2011
Australia

Councils get control of wind farm developments

ABC Melbourne, www.abc.net.au 4 March 2011

Planning Minister Matthew Guy has amended wind farm planning guidelines.

The amendment requires new wind farm planning applications to identify homes within two kilometres of turbines.

It also includes new noise guidelines and makes local government the responsible planning authority for wind farms of all sizes.

Mr Guy says local councils will be offered assistance.

“The Government has developed a working group within the department of planning and community development, to work with councils and with the MAV on wind farm issues,” he said.

“Importantly, the amendment gives councils the right to ask the the minister to determine these applications rather than themself.”

Rob Spence from the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) says local councils will need significantly more resources to deal with wind farm applications.

“Our concern is the capacity of the councils to deal with this issue, given the technical skill and sort of financial requirements that the councils going to need to do an appropriate assessment.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/04/councils-get-control-of-wind-farm-developments/