December 3, 2012
Australia

Residents say money won’t compensate for wind development

ABC News | 3 December 2012 | www.abc.net.au

A landholder living near a proposed wind farm at Wellington says no amount of money can compensate for the potential environmental and health impacts of the development.

The local council has held two community meetings to ask residents what they would like to be included in a voluntary planning agreement for the Bodangora wind farm.

Upgrades to roads and other infrastructure have been suggested, but there are concerns the money will not ease landholders’ concerns.

Michael Lyons from the Bodangora Wind Turbine Awareness Group says a VPA is not enough.

“No it wouldn’t ease my concerns about the project at all,” he said.

“I think the biggest concern about this project is health and that’s something that no amount of money can compensate someone for their health and the science at the moment is that infrasound is a big issue.

“The project itself, no I don’t think there’s anything they can compensate enough for.”

Infigen Energy wants to spend $200 million building 30 turbines to capitalise on the district’s wind resource.

Mr Lyons says the potential impacts of the development are difficult to measure.

“That’s a hard one because the effect on the community is going to be very hard to measure, no-one really knows.

“Certainly I think it should be a very substantial amount because the impact on the community and neighbouring landowners, if the science is correct, it’s certainly is not in favour of the wind turbine in the first place.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/03/residents-say-money-wont-compensate-for-wind-development/