April 11, 2013
Australia

Company responds to Collector windfarm concerns

ABC News | 11 April 2013 | www.abc.net.auABC News | 11 April 2013 | www.abc.net.au

The company behind a proposed windfarm in the Upper Lachlan Shire Council says it will address traffic concerns with the project once it gets approval.

The Collector Wind Farm was going to see almost 70 turbines built south west of Goulburn.

Following 140 public submissions on the project, RATCH Australia says it is now looking to remove five turbines to help reduce habitat loss.

In its submission on the project the Roads and Maritime Services opposed widening stretches of the Hume Highway to transport oversized loads, saying it wasn’t necessary.

It also says it doesn’t support right hand movements across the highway, because of safety and efficiency concerns.

RATCH Australia says further assessments relating to road access would be carried out if the environmental assessment is approved.

It says a detailed traffic management plan would be included in the project construction plan.

The Office of Environment and Heritage raised concerns about the impact the windfarm will have box-gum woodland in the area.

It says the loss of habitat could impact several threatened species including the eastern bentwing bat.

In its response to the submissions, RATCH Australia says it will reduce the number of turbines to 63.

It says removing five turbines from the area will reduce permanent habitat loss by a quarter.

The Upper Lachlan Shire Council has called for all turbines in the Collector Wind Farm to be set back two kilometres from dwellings.

RATCH Australia says in its original proposal three homes were within a two kilometre radius of the turbines.

But under its revised project, there’s only one.

It says it doesn’t have to get permission from the home owner, because no work would be carried out on the property.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/11/company-responds-to-collector-windfarm-concerns/