May 13, 2011
Australia
Australia
Wind farm changes to 'burden' councils
ABC Ballarat, www.abc.net.au 13 May 2011
ABC Ballarat, www.abc.net.au 13 May 2011
The State Opposition says ratepayers in south-west Victoria will foot the bill for State Government changes to wind farm planning guidelines.
The changes gazetted by Planning Minister Matthew Guy earlier this year include handing the planning responsibility for large wind energy projects to councils.
Several south-west Victorian councils are concerned that will over-stretch their resources.
Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee says the Government should have included extra funding in last week’s state budget to help councils process applications.
“This is a major cost shifting from the Government, now they don’t deal with wind farms at all and that cost and that burden has been handed over to councils,” he said.
“The State Government pockets the difference and hasn’t compensated local councils in any way.”
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/13/wind-farm-changes-to-burden-councils/