October 20, 2011
Australia, Press releases

A federally funded death trap

Senator John Madigan, Democratic Labor Party Senator for Victoria

While more and more evidence is emerging about the danger of wind farms in rural communities, the government is still pumping billions of dollars into dangerous industrial infrastructure.

Answers to questions on aviation safety around developed wind farms and wind monitoring towers raised by Senator Adams in the Rural Affairs and Transport committee on Tuesday opened a lot more questions.

Senator John Madigan said the new evidence should prompt the government to investigate the matter once more.

“Information about the dangers of wind farms keeps coming to light,” Senator Madigan said.

“This new evidence needs to be investigated urgently and fixed before any more towers are constructed.”

“Companies are erecting wind monitoring towers very quickly, without the knowledge of the Government and without notifying the relevant aviation safety authority and aviation users.”

“These towers are unmarked on maps are without safety lights and are painted with low-reflectivity paint, making them virtually camouflaged from the air.”

“It lets wind industry conglomerates keep the location of their towers a secret, but endangers the lives of rural aviators. How can the government be allowing this to happen?”

“Pilots overseas have died crashing into these towers that are virtually invisible from the air. It is only a matter of time before it happens here.”

“These points were made by the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia (AAAA) in their submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms.”

“Was risking the lives of pilots not enough of a social impact for the inquiry to take note of?”

“The Senate Inquiry was a complete joke. They received over 1000 submission and made only seven wishy washy recommendations – none of which have seen the light of day.

“The next time the Senate sits I will be demanding for either that inquiry to be re-opened, or another inquiry into the specific health and safety of these wind farms opened.”

Laura Methorst | Media Officer for Senator John Madigan
Democratic Labor Party Senator for Victoria
Canberra: Suite S1.49, Parliament House, Canberra | TEL: 02 6277 3473
Electorate office: 17 Albert St, Ballarat. Vic 3350 | TEL: 03 5331 2321
Mob: 0431 239 182


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/20/a-federally-funded-death-trap/