June 14, 2013
Australia

Concern over wind farm plans

Cootamundra Herald | June 14, 2013 | www.cootamundraherald.com.au

Plans for a wind farm a matter of kilometres out of Jugiong have district farmer Mark Glover concerned.

Mr Glover resides on a property between Jugiong and Coolac and first and foremost is calling for increased consultation from the company behind the proposed ‘Yass Valley Wind Farm’ Epuron.

Epuron has contacted a number of landholders around the Jugiong area and discussion is currently being held as to a proposed community consultation meeting.

Mr Glover is part of a group calling themselves the ‘Yass Landscape Guardians’, which formed in February this year. The group recently undertook a phone survey of adult residents and landowners within eight kilometres of the Yass Valley Wind Farm.

A total of 183 calls were made with the results of the survey revealing 70 per cent of respondents were opposed to the development of a wind farm, 14 per cent were unsure and 16 per cent were in favour if it.

Mr Glover stated that their survey showed 78 per cent of respondents had not been contacted by Epuron while 63 per cent said they had not received a newsletter from Epuron.

The Yass Landscape Guardians have had their survey looked over by managing director of Galaxy Research David Briggs, based in Sydney.

Mr Briggs said following a review of the material he confirmed the survey of residents in the Yass Valley was administered in accordance with the accepted standards for conducting research in Australia.

Mr Glover said taking aside concerns in regards to consultation with landholders, he is worried about the visual impact of a wind farm.

He said he is also concerned it will be detrimental to land values in the area.

The Yass Valley Wind Farm proposal incorporates 152 wind turbine sand will stretch from Jugiong towards Yass.

A wind farm by the same company Epuron has already been granted approval between Bookham and Yass and will include 15 turbines.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/14/concern-over-wind-farm-plans/