LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

News Watch Home

Wind farm restrictions bring no joy for Devon North opponents 

Credit:  HAYLEY PLUMRIDGE, Gippsland Times, yourguide.com.au 2 September 2011 ~~

The State Government’s restrictive new planning rules that placed large parts of Victoria off-limits for wind farm developments will not impact the proposed Yarram wind farm in Devon North.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced his approval of Amendment VC82, which reforms the way wind farms can be approved and prohibits a wind turbine being constructed within two kilometres of an existing dwelling.

An unexpected restriction blocking the construction of wind farms within five kilometres of major regional centres was also announced.

Mr Guy said without the written consent of homeowners, the turbine placement could not be approved.

“The Coalition Government committed to giving local communities a key role in deciding where wind farms will go, and restoring fairness and certainty to the planning process for wind farms,” Mr Guy said.

“Amendment VC82 delivers on that commitment. I have already given planning control on wind farms back to local councils and have made available resources through the Planning Department to assist councils to make their own decisions on wind farm applications.”

Under the new planning rules all national and state parks would be no-go zones for wind farms.

Mr Guy said the Coalition Government had also ensured wind farms would not be permitted within five kilometres of regional growth areas, as specified in the Regional Victoria Settlement Framework.

“It is important that while wind energy develops, it does not do so to the detriment of rural and regional Victorians,” Mr Guy said.

Despite the new planning rules, the Yarram wind farm will still go ahead regardless of several residences being less than two kilometres away from the proposed site.

As part of their election commitment the Victorian Government promised not to retrospectively apply these rules to existing planning approvals.

A spokesperson for Deputy Premier and Gippsland South MLA Peter Ryan said the Yarram wind farm would not be affected by the new planning rules because it had already been approved.

Shadow Minister for Planning, Brian Tee said the wind farm policy was flawed and would cost jobs and investment in regional Victoria, stunt the growth of the wind farm industry and do nothing for the environment.

Friends of the Earth campaign co-ordinator Cam Walker said the restrictions would cost Victoria “billions of dollars and thousands of jobs”.

“At a time when we urgently need to generate more clean energy, this policy is sending us back to the dark ages,” Mr Walker said.

“These strict planning restrictions do not apply to any other major developments, and make it easier to build a coal mine in rural Victoria than a wind farm.”

Australian hydroelectric and wind farm specialist company Pacific Hydro general manager Lane Crockett acknowledged the release of the Planning Amendment and expressed concerns about the precedent it will set for all infrastructure development in the state.

He said Pacific Hydro would not pursue future project developments in Victoria.

For more read Friday’s Gippsland Times.

Source:  HAYLEY PLUMRIDGE, Gippsland Times, yourguide.com.au 2 September 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky