March 17, 2013
Australia

Aust. House recognizes ill health concerns of wind power

Thursday, 10 May 2012, Page 4610, House of Representatives Private Members' Business

Speaker: Moylan, Judi, MP.

Mrs MOYLAN (Pearce) (17:41): by leave – I move:

That the motion be amended in the terms as circulated to honourable members in the chamber. The motion reads:

That this House:

(1) recognises the importance of clean energy generation technologies in Australia’s current and future energy mix;

(2) acknowledges the exponential growth of wind power across Australia;

(3) appreciates that prudent planning policies are key to ensuring new infrastructure development does not adversely impact upon the social fabric of communities;

(4) notes that:

(a) the Environment Protection and Heritage Council has decided to cease further development of the National Wind Farm Development Guidelines;

(b) there are claims supporting concern about the health and associated social effects of wind farms which remain unresolved; and

(c) the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee’s report, The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms has called for adequately resourced studies into the possible impact wind farms have on health as a matter of priority;

(5) recognises that the National Health and Medical Research Council’s rapid review into wind turbines and health is only a cursory compilation of literature on the topic and not an in-depth study and should not be principally relied upon to inform planning guidelines;

(6) acknowledges that the National Health and Medical Research Council is now conducting an in-depth literature review of the scientific evidence on the potential effects of wind turbines, including low-frequency noise and infrasound to:

(a) inform any update to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Public Statement Wind Turbines and Human Health; and

(b) identify critical gaps in the current evidence base;

(7) calls on the government to facilitate further expert investigation and research should critical gaps be evident;

(8) requests that State and Territory Governments fully investigate international best practice in planning policies regarding wind farms and publish comprehensive updated guidelines;

(9) calls on State, Territory and local government authorities to adopt cautious planning policies for wind farms and in the interim provide adequate buffer zones and not locate wind farms near to towns, residential zoned areas, farm buildings and workplaces; and

(10) calls on the approval processes of State and Territory and Local Governments to require wind farm developers to indemnify against potential health issues arising from low frequency noise and infrasound before development approval is granted.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms K Livermore ): Is the amendment seconded?

Dr Stone: I second the amendment.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/17/aust-house-recognizes-ill-health-concerns-of-wind-power/