July 31, 2013
Australia

Decision no closer

By FARREN HOTHAM | Wellington Times | July 31, 2013 | www.wellingtontimes.com.au

Landholders in the Bodangora community have demanded written guarantees from the state government their lives won’t be ruined by the proposed new Infigen Energy windfarm which surrounds their homes.

Property owner Nick Lyons said he had never been consulted by anybody.

He told an independent panel of three people who were hearing views on the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure’s recommendations to approve the windfarm subject to conditions, that he and his family wanted to invest in the community but the sixth generation farmer said he feared for the prospects for his family and his parents.

“I want a written guarantee from you there will be no excessive noise, no health impacts, no sleep deprivation.

“Under these circumstances how can you approve this project?” he said.

This was a recurring theme presented at the meeting by a crowd of more than 50 speakers. An estimated crowd of more than 200 attended the marathon, four-hour session at the Wellington Soldiers Club on Monday.

Mr Lyons’ wife said the project was frightening.

“This really scares me. It’s where we want to live and raise our family,” she said.

Tony Poole who lives in the area where the 33 proposed turbines will be erected said he had been on many medications and the prospect of Bodangora windfarm was terrifying.

‘’I take 15 tablets day and have recently gone off them. I don’t want to go back on them. I was told about this meeting by a friend. I am so depressed and I don’t read the newspaper because there might be bad news in it.’’ He pleaded.

‘’Please stop this. No one has ever consulted me I am 3.2 km from the towers ‘’ he said.

Local farmer Roger Everett told the meeting he supported the renewable energy the windfarm would give the area while a former mayor and shire president Campbell Gregory said Infigen Energy had proved to be a good corporate citizen.

‘’Some farmers look to this financial benefit as drought proofing their farm’’ Mr Gregory said

Another farmer Simon Barton said ‘’ I agree with their decision to allow this project. We need the Bodangora windfarm to go ahead. We farmers know we have the wind this power at least 40,000 homes in the area’’ he said.

Spicers Creek land holder Carol Conn said their family’s property and surrounds were being inundated by huge windfarms warning of major financial losses. There are proposals for larger windfarms all the way from Wellington to Mudgee she explained.

‘’Our house and property could be devalued by more than 40%. I am concerned for the landholders, their health, their children’s health’’ she said ‘’ The company has a duty of a care’’ she said.

The chairperson for the independent panel said the group were impressed by the manner people had conducted themselves during the long afternoon hearing.

‘’We appreciate this is a difficult and emotional issue. We take into account the work you have put into this.’’ Gabrielle Kibble AO said.

‘’I think it’s unlikely there will be a final decision for sometime’’ she said.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/07/31/decision-no-closer/