March 10, 2014
Australia

Developer rejects claims wind turbines built in wrong spot

Lucy Barbour and Nick Pedley | ABC Rural | 10 March 2014 | www.abc.net.au

The developer of a wind farm on the southern tablelands of New South Wales has rejected claims that 130-metre-high wind turbines have been built in the wrong spot.

The State Department of Planning and Infrastructure says wind turbines at the Gullen Range wind farm are not being built to plan.

Many of the 73 turbines have been built at locations up to 187 metres away from those originally planned and authorised.

The site is being developed by Goldwind Australia. Managing director John Titchen says the company is entitled to make minor relocations when placing the turbines.

“The Gullen Range wind farm layout is consistent with the project approval,” he said.

“Claims that the wind turbines have been placed in other unapproved locations are incorrect. The Gullen Range wind farm approval permits minor relocations of turbines compared with the indicative turbine layout.”

The company has voluntarily stopped work on several wind turbines that were listed by the Department of Planning.

Upper Lachlan mayor John Shaw says the issue was first raised with the department by a member of the community.

“The locals are saying, ‘we knew this has been happening the whole time’,” he said.

“He got the Department of Planning and Compliance to check it out and that’s what they found.

“This wind farm itself has been shrouded in controversy since it first started.

“It’s a wind farm that affects a lot of families, especially within the two-kilometre radius themselves.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/10/developer-rejects-claims-wind-turbines-built-in-wrong-spot/