October 23, 2013
Australia

Wind farm VCAT hearing re-commences

Shannon Twomey | The Weekly Times | October 23, 2013 | www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

A VCAT hearing on the proposed Cherry Tree Range wind farm will re-commence today with key witness statements expected to be heard.

The University of Sydney’s professor of public health Simon Chapman said in a statement yesterday he had critically reviewed some of the submissions made, including a submission made by Sarah Laurie from the Waubra Foundation.

“Sarah Laurie has no training or experience in research and is an open opponent of wind farms,” Prof Chapman said.

“These problems and biases are obvious throughout her submission.”

Prof Chapman said the anti-wind farm campaigners continue to ignore reviews published by credible health organisations such as the Victorian Department of Health.

“There have now been 19 reviews of the available evidence about wind farms and health published internationally,” he said.

“These reviews have concluded there is no strong evidence that they make people ill,” Prof Chapman added.

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Leigh Ewbank said the VCAT hearing is yet another example of outside anti-wind farm groups hijacking the planning system to fight an ideological battle.

“Sarah Laurie resides 655km from the site of the proposed wind farm in Trawool,” he said.

Ms Laurie told The Weekly Times Now Prof Chapman was too close to the wind developers and manufacturers.

“Bullying those who are speaking out and persistently shooting the messenger, and displaying his ignorance of the predictable health consequences of exposure to night time low frequency noise is only ruining Prof Chapman’s previously wonderful reputation as an advocate for tobacco harm reduction,” she said.

“The truth of what is going on at wind developments around the world cannot be suppressed forever.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/10/23/wind-farm-vcat-hearing-re-commences/