August 30, 2011
Australia

South Australia urged to adopt wind farm separation zones

ABC News, www.abc.net.au 30 August 2011

Groups in South Australia opposing wind farm developments close to homes and regional towns say the State Government needs to follow Victoria’s lead in having separation zones.

The Victorian Government has decided wind farms cannot be built within two kilometres of homes and within five kilometres of more than 20 regional towns.

Felicity Martin from the Goyder Sustainable Development Association says South Australia should adopt similar rules.

“I do think that it’s really important to ensure that people don’t become wind refugees, which we’ve actually seen in our area,” she said.

SA Greens’ MP Mark Parnell says it is not the right way to go.

“We need a smarter planning approach and we need to continue to work with wind companies to make sure they listen to local communities,” he said.

Mr Parnell says more wind farms may come to South Australia as a result of the Victorian move.

A representative of Planning Minister John Rau says he is looking at the Victorian move.

Meanwhile, the company wanting to develop a wind farm at Allendale East has organised public meetings over the next two days.

In June the Environment, Resources and Development Court upheld an appeal against the $175 million wind farm on the basis of its visual impact.

Acciona Energy has lodged a further appeal in the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Acciona’s David Clarke says it is important to keep the public in the loop.

“We just want to provide information to answer questions that people have, to listen to and discuss their concerns and really talk to them about how the planning process for projects like this wind farm takes into account those issues that concern the community,” he said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/30/south-australia-urged-to-adopt-wind-farm-separation-zones/