April 25, 2012
Australia

Mulder urged to probe wind farm road damage

ABC News, www.abc.net.au 25 April 2012

Western Victorian MP Simon Ramsay has warned the State Government may need to find additional money to pay for repairs to roads damaged during the construction of wind farms.

During a speech in Parliament this week, Mr Ramsay asked Roads Minister Terry Mulder to investigate the problem.

The Glenelg and Moyne shires have complained about the impact of trucks supplying wind farms.

Mr Ramsay says councils are being forced to foot the bill for the mistakes of the previous Labor government.

“There is no doubt that councils are going to have to seek some support to deal with this mess … created by the previous Labor government, not only in road provision but the permits themselves and the impact they are having to communities right across western Victoria,” he said.

He says the Government may have to force wind farm developers to help cover the cost of road repairs.

“How do we now accommodate what we see as a very real need by communities across western Victoria in providing assistance for this deterioration in road networks,” he said.

“Now obviously from my point of view the wind generators themselves will have to take some responsibility.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/25/mulder-urged-to-probe-wind-farm-road-damage/