February 11, 2014
Australia
Australia
A public hearing at Blayney on a proposed wind farm has heard it has divided the community.
About 75 people attended Tuesday’s first day of a two-day Planning Assessment Commission hearing to determine the proposed Flyers Creek wind farm south of Orange.
Lisa Taylor from the Clean Energy Council said hosting turbines can help drought affected farmers,
“Commonly they say this is the first time in my life I haven’t had to rely on the weather for an income,” she said.
Millthorpe resident David Dixon says wind farms are good symbols.
“Basically I think it’s an agreement between big business and big government to be seen to be doing something about global warming,” he said.
Nationals MP Paul Toole told the commissioners he represents constituents who fear their superannuation will be eroded by property values falling by up to 50 per cent because of the wind farm.
Infigen Energy is proposing to construct up to 43 turbines at Flyer’s Creek at a cost of nearly $200 million.
Thirty speakers addressed yesterday’s Planning Assessment Commission hearing in Blayney yesterday.
Kim Masters says his farm would be within the boundaries of the wind farm and the closest turbine a kilometre away.
“I’m here today to show my support for the project,” he said.
“I don’t believe that noise will be a problem.
“I have travelled to many windfarms across Australia and viewed some overseas and I can’t find any problems with them.
“Yes, there will be a visual impact because they’re a tower sticking out of the ground but in the overall thing, no, I can’t see any problems.”
However, Millthorpe resident David Dixon is concerned the development would ruin the region’s rural amenity.
“Wind turbines, while they form a very important symbol for urban elites to say we’re doing something about global warming, the impact of them fall disproportionately on rural communities that simply don’t have the influence,” Mr Dixon said.
“They’re not close to the seats of power. They’re not close to the media and they get imposed upon them.”
Another 20 people are expected to address the commision hearing on Wednesday.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/11/emotions-run-high-at-blayney-wind-farm-meeting/