December 19, 2013
Australia

‘Good neighbour’ payments on offer near wind farm turbines at Palmer

ABC News | 19 December 2013 | www.abc.net.au

Residents close to a proposed 120-turbine wind farm in the eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, east of Adelaide, could be paid to support the development.

TrustPower Australia will offer payments for what it calls ‘good wind farm neighbours’.

The company will offer annual payments of at least $2,000 to people living within two kilometres of the proposed Palmer wind farm, north-west of Mannum.

TrustPower chief executive Rodney Ahern says it will spread the wealth of the $700 million project, but with conditions.

“Not to interfere with the wind farm and to basically be a good neighbour,” he said.

“If they’re happy to support the wind farm or not object to it and not to do things on their land to interfere then we’re happy to pay them.”

But Tony Walker from the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Landscape Guardians says it shows the development will have a negative impact on the local community.

“They wouldn’t be making this offer if they really believe their own publicity which is that you won’t really suffer any problems at all,” he said.

“Will any amount of money really fix the destructive impact that that’s going to have?”

Residents will be able to apply to receive the payments until a planning application is lodged for the wind farm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/12/19/good-neighbour-payments-on-offer-near-wind-farm-turbines-at-palmer/