April 15, 2014
Australia

Wind farm opponents celebrate shelved Robertstown plans

ABC News | 15 April 2014 | www.abc.net.au

Opponents of a wind farm near Robertstown, in South Australia’s mid-north, say its likely demise is cause for celebration.

EnergyAustralia had proposed the 25-turbine, $200 million wind farm.

However, it has been put on hold indefinitely, with EnergyAustralia deciding the economics of using the site do not compare favourably with projects in the region.

Mary Morris from the Goyder Sustainable Development Association says it is a win for common sense.

She says it was the wrong site for locals, particularly given the impact of the Waterloo wind farm nearby.

“Lots and lots of little 20 acre blocks all along the bottom of the range and there’s just hundreds of people that live there impacted if it had been built and also because it’s on top of the hill we’re already getting this stuff from Waterloo,” she said.

“It was definitely going to be a wind farm in the wrong place – there are just too many people that live in the vicinity, so it’s a cliche but it’s a win for common sense.”

EnergyAustralia says other projects it has in the region could produce electricity more efficiently and at a lower cost.

After six years of testing, the company has begun dismantling two wind monitoring masts for the Robertstown project – at Julia Creek and Hampden.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/15/wind-farm-opponents-celebrate-shelved-robertstown-plans/