September 29, 2011
Australia

Council rejects move on wind farm appeals

Crookwell Gazette, www.crookwellgazette.com.au 29 September 2011

A move for Upper Lachlan Council to obtain its own legal advice on possible appeals against “forced” land acquisitions by wind farm developers was rejected at its last meeting.

Cr. Malcolm Barlow sought this action in respect to Land and Environment Court decisions that require some landholders affected by the Gullen and Taralga wind farms to either sell their land to the developers or accept the close proximity of turbines.

This follows advice to Council from the Attorney General that he could not intervene in decisions by the Court.

“I’m not asking Council to make the appeal; we would ask the Government to,” Cr. Barlow said.

Cr. Sandra Bill seconded the motion “for purposes of discussion.”

Cr. Barlow said that the request would be coming from Council, not an individual.

Cr. Mike Coley was worried about “putting Council in a position where it didn’t want to be.”

Cr. Bill: “They’re really not giving these people (affected by acquisition) any alternative.”

Cr. Brian Moloney: “We could spend a large amount of money on our legal opinion, and if they come back with the same answer we’re back where we started.”

Cr. Barlow: “Even if it cost a few thousand dollars it would help to keep up the pressure. It’s not too much to ask Council to do this.”

Mayor Cr. John Shaw: “We’ve already done that.”

Cr. Barlow: “But not with legal advice.”

The motion was defeated with only Cr. Barlow and Cr. Bill in favour.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/29/council-rejects-move-on-wind-farm-appeals/