December 6, 2013
Australia

Keyneton wind farm approval, with 26 conditions, prompts threat of court action by opponents

ABC News | 6 December 2013 | www.abc.net.au

Approval has been given for a 42-turbine wind farm near Keyneton on the edge of the Barossa Valley.

South Australian Planning Minister John Rau said there had been extensive consultation since the application was first lodged by Pacific Hydro 18 months ago.

“Detailed analysis and assessment has meant approval has been granted subject to 26 conditions covering both the construction and operation of the wind farm and its associated infrastructure,” he said.

“This development is estimated to be able to power the equivalent of 68,000 South Australian homes a year, avoiding the creation of 240,000 tonnes of carbon pollution.”

The 26 conditions relate to construction and operation of the wind farm and its infrastructure including transformers and transmission lines.

The minister said the Environment Protection Authority examined the plan and studied the workings of an existing wind farm at Waterloo.

“No evidence was found linking noise from the wind farm to adverse impacts on residents,” Mr Rau said.

A group which has been lobbying against the wind farm plan says it will launch a legal challenge to the approval.

Tony Walker from the Eastern Mount Lofty Landscape Guardians says the turbines will have an adverse impact.

“There would be a significant number of people who wouldn’t be able to continue living in their homes because they would be surrounded in some instances by 20 or 30 turbines,” he said.

“We haven’t come this far just to lie down and play doggo.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/12/06/keyneton-wind-farm-approval-with-26-conditions-prompts-threat-of-court-action-by-opponents/