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Infigen gets wind of health claims
Credit: By Erin Somerville, Central Western Daily, ww.centralwesterndaily.com.au 24 March 2011 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Infigen Energy has disputed claims that wind farms cause serious health problems.
The company’s defence comes after Dr Sarah Laurie addressed the community around Flyers Creek last week to discuss medical evidence linking wind farms with negative health conditions.
Infigen Energy has proposed to construct a $200 million wind farm with up to 40 150-metre turbines in the Flyers Creek area.
A spokesperson from Infigen said the company was aware of the theory linking wind turbines with ill health, but disputed its accuracy.
“Infigen Energy is aware of ex-doctor Sarah Laurie’s theory and disputes that it has any validity,” senior development manager Jonathon Upson said.
“The Australian Government’s peak health and medical research body, the CSIRO and South Australian EPA have found no validity to her theory.”
Dr Laurie said hundreds of people around the world who lived near wind turbines had presented with common, sudden and unexplainable medical symptoms such as anxiety, cardiovascular issues, nausea and headaches.
Mr Upson said if the Flyers Creek development was approved the company would not take any measures to combat the theorised health problems caused by infrasounds waves from the turbines.
“There is no need to take measures to prevent a problem that does not exist,” he said.
“ As a result of over 35 one-on-one meetings with neighbours of the Flyers Creek project, we know the great majority of the community supports the Flyers Creek wind farm proposal.
“We recognise there is a small but vocal group who have concerns about the project.”
A Federal Senate Inquiry is currently being held to look into the affects of wind turbines on people’s health.
It has received more than 1000 submissions.
The inquiry’s report is expected to be released at the end of April.
Infigen Energy is confident the report’s findings will dismiss theories about wind turbines causing ill health to nearby residents.
“While there have been over 1000 submissions to this inquiry, the domestic positive submissions have outnumbered the negative submissions by over 2 to 1,” Mr Upson said.
There are currently no restrictions on the distance between wind turbines and dwellings.
The turbines must meet the state’s noise requirements to be approved.
Dr Laurie has hit back at claims by Infigen Energy that she is not a real doctor.
She said she is not registered to practise due to ongoing health and domestic issues, but is preparing to re-register in the near future.
Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Flinders University, Fellowship of the Australian College of General Practioners, Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Clinical Examiner for the Royal Australian College of General Practioners and State Council member of the Australian Medical Association.
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