February 26, 2013
Australia

Barossa wind farm mooted

Cimara Pearce | February 26, 2013 | www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

More than 40 wind turbines could soon be built in Australia’s most iconic wine region.

Pacific Hydro plans to build a 42-turbine farm that runs about 15km north to south along the Mount Lofty Ranges in the Barossa Valley if given the tick of approval.

The proposal, currently before the South Australian Development Assessment Commission, has caused significant angst for a number of residents in the four communities that will neighbour the proposed wind farm.

At a meeting on the project last week Pacific Hydro general manager Lane Crockett apologised for the trauma some residents were feeling.

The apology and show of empathy was labelled as “hypocritical” by some angry locals.

“It’s an apology we believe means nothing unless the company withdraws the project,” Eden Valley landholder Marina Teusner said.

Mr Crocket said he apologised for the pain residents were suffering but said even though some felt they would be harmed by the proposal, they would not.

“I apologised for the fact that our proposal is making people anxious because that’s not our intent and the last thing we would ever do is do something that harms the community,” Mr Crocket said.

“I feel a great deal of empathy for them in that they’re anxious about their lifestyle and protecting their future. . . but the problem is they’re considering what will happen to them when this wind farm is built and it’s just so different to our experience with windfarms over the past 10-12 years.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/26/barossa-wind-farm-mooted/