May 16, 2011
Australia

Minister rejects councils' wind farm planning gripes

ABC Ballarat, www.abc.net.au 16 May 2011

Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy says south-west Victorian councils do not need more funding to manage wind farm planning applications.

Several councils have voiced concerns that they cannot afford to comply with the changes to wind farm planning guidelines gazetted by Mr Guy earlier this year.

The Opposition has criticised the Government for not including extra funding in the recent state budget.

However, Mr Guy says the Government has already given councils access to adequate planning resources.

“The Government has given local councils three opportunities to manage wind farm applications,” he said.

“They can do it all themself, they can seek extra resources from the department or they can give it all to the State Government to manage.

“Previously they had no options, we’re giving them three, and these options existed before the state budget and they remain there now.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/16/minister-rejects-councils-wind-farm-planning-gripes/