April 29, 2013
Australia

King Island still divided over wind farm

ABC News | 29 April 2013 | www.abc.net.auABC News | 29 April 2013 | www.abc.net.au

Community opinion about a proposed 200-turbine wind farm on King Island remains split.

Hydro Tasmania is still consulting the community over the $2 billion project, before deciding whether to continue to a full feasibility study.

Residents will be surveyed in early June with results expected a few weeks later.

The consultative committee’s chair John Brewster says it is hard to know how many people support the project.

“This is a question that’s asked quite often and I really couldn’t tell you any more than 50/50,” he said.

“It depends who you talk to and there’s a big majority out there that aren’t saying a lot and there’s quite vocal people at either end.”

An independent economic study starts this week.

Hydro Tasmania has already looked at the economic benefits if the project goes ahead.

The independent study will compare those findings to the economic impacts if the wind farm is not built.

Mr Brewster says the community wants to understand both outcomes before committing to the proposal.

“The major question for people on the island, because I think basically for most people it’s an economic question, needs to be answered independently.”

The results are expected towards the end of next month.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/29/king-island-still-divided-over-wind-farm/