July 31, 2013
Australia

Councillors oppose routes

By SAM PAINE | Mudgee Guardian | July 31, 2013 | www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/

Councillors at last Wednesday’s meeting voted to oppose the transport of “oversize and overweight loads” through the residential areas of Mudgee and Gulgong in the construction phase of the Crudine Ridge Wind Farm.

Council has also called for the project’s application to be placed on public display again for a further 60 days following changes to the developer’s preferred transport route for turbine parts.

The new route proposes to bring loads along the Golden Highway from the Port of Newcastle, through Medley Street, Gulgong, and through Mudgee.

General manager Warwick Bennett pointed out that the route through Mudgee would either pass two schools or follow Lawson Street, which he said did not have the capacity to carry such loads.

“These loads will be up to 75 metres in length and some of them could weigh as much as 75 tonnes,” Mr Bennett told council in a report.

“All traffic on the roads when these overweight and oversized loads pass will be required to stop.

“Council should note that there will be at least 10 of these oversized and overweight loads per day, six days per week for in excess of four months.”

The proposed wind farm would consist of 106 towers around Pyramul, with materials to be transported including blades, generators, gearboxes and towers.

Council maintains that it wants to see the parts transported via Hill End, Windeyer and Pyramul Roads, as proposed in the wind farm’s initial environmental assessment, and the roads appropriately upgraded.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/31/councillors-oppose-routes/