September 21, 2012
Australia

Residents’ group snubs wind farm forum

By Melinda Howells | ABC News | www.abc.net.au 21 September 2012

The Cooranga North concerned citizens group says a community consultation process about a South Burnett wind farm proposal has been a waste of time.

AGL held the latest meeting yesterday, to discuss plans to build about 115 turbines in the area.

Spokesman Bryan Lyons says the group will no longer participate in the meetings.

“Experts who have worked with the concerned citizens group, acoustic experts are unable to put their information forward under the forum that AGL have set up and so it really is a one-sided forum where they’re selling their information and there’s very little consideration of the community’s concerns,” he said.

Mr Lyons says members do not believe the meetings are effective.

“Because it wasn’t delivering any outcomes, this community concerned citizens group have made the call that we don’t need to waste our time with it any more,” he said.

“We’re very keen to consult, there’s a lot of issues that the concerned citizens group have got but it’s a forum that we haven’t been able to put our issues forward and have them properly considered.”

Earlier this year, AGL said it was looking to work through, with the community consultative committee, “ways to find reasonable outcomes to make the project viable for everyone”.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/21/residents-group-snubs-wind-farm-forum/