November 8, 2011
Australia

Nationals want wind farm freeze

Crookwell Gazette, www.crookwellgazette.com.au 8 November 2011

The NSW National Party State conference has called for a freeze on new wind farm approvals.

Delegates at last weekend’s conference carried a motion calling for a moratorium on wind farms.

Burrinjuck Electorate delegate Mr. James Harker-Mortlock said more review is needed on new wind farm developments.

“There are approximately 300 turbines planned for a 50 kilometre circumference around the Yass area,” he said.

“It stretches from Yass across to Gunning, up to Crookwell and across to Rye Park and Boorowa.

“This is a substantial area and it will impact upon many areas and the local infrastructure.”

The Government has already indicated to Upper Lachlan Council that it does not favour a moratorium.

The conference also called for a re-assessment of the impact of new National Parks on regional economies.

Murray-Darling MP John Williams has been critical of the new Red Gum National Parks declared in the 1000,000 hectares of State forests in the Riverina last year.

However, his National Party colleague, Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson has ruled out reversing the declarations.

Mr. Stoner said that while he understood concerns over the new National Parks, the State Government was not bound by the conference resolution.

“This is a motion that reflects the frustration of many people in regional NSW about the continued expansion of National Parks estate without the necessary resources to actually look after them,” he said.

“That said, this is not a motion that was supported in any way by the NSW Government.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/08/nationals-want-wind-farm-freeze/