August 14, 2012
Australia

Wind farms don’t cause ill health effects: Acciona Energy

ABC Ballarat | www.abc.net.au 14 August 2012

The operator of the Waubra Wind Farm has rejected suggestions turbines make people sick.

Three years after it began operating, the Waubra Wind Farm remains Victoria’s largest source of wind energy.

It also remains a large source of controversy.

Claims by residents that the turbines are making them ill have been well documented and have give rise to the Waubra Foundation – a national organisation concerned about the ill-health effects of wind farms.

Brett Wickham from Acciona Energy visited the ABC Ballarat studio today to discuss some of the issues and allegations that continue to plague the project.

“I don’t believe that turbines make people sick at all,” Mr Wickham said.

He remained adamant there is “no properly peer-reviewed information anywhere in the world” that suggests wind turbines cause ill health effects.

The Acciona Energy spokesperson also rejected claims the Waubra Wind Farm does not meet noise guideline requirements.

“All these reports that say we are not compliant – none of us have received copies of them and we have not been able to interrogate them at all.”

Mr Wickham says its own investigations suggest it is compliant with the 1998 New Zealand standards.

“Which are the standards that our planning permit was required to comply with.”

The Victorian Government has since adopted revised 2010 noise standards, but says the Planning Minister is confident the Waubra Wind Farm is meeting its requirements.

“We will continue to work with the government and continue to do any further monitoring that they require,” Mr Wickham said.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/14/wind-farms-dont-cause-ill-health-effects-acciona-energy/