February 18, 2015
Australia

New lobby group wants tighter wind turbine controls

Lobby group calls for tighter wind farm planning rules | By Peter Collins | The Standard | Feb. 19, 2015 | www.standard.net.au

A new lobby group has been formed to represent people fighting for tighter planning controls and better monitoring of wind farms.

Wind Industry Reform Victoria has several south-west residents on its committee, according to president John McMahon of Lal Lal near Ballarat.

“We share a common view and are looking to congeal the feelings of many small groups across the state,” he told The Standard yesterday.

“Our aim is to be an effective lobby organisation.

“Wind Industry Reform shares concern with the general community about climate change and is not against wind turbines as such.

“However, we are strongly against having large turbines close to homes.”

Mr McMahon and other members of the group were in Portland Monday night to hear acoustics expert Steve Cooper present his report into a study on the Cape Bridgewater wind farm.

It found a trend between infrasound produced by turbines generating electricity and sensations reported by six local residents, but did not conclude wind farms caused health problems.

“The report gave us extra incentive and is a great step forward in understanding the effects of infrasound,” Mr McMahon said.

“We’d like to encourage more research into the issue so regulations can be amended.”

The reform group is keen to meet Premier Daniel Andrews and his ministers with concerns about moves to reduce the two-kilometre setback between turbines and homes.

Height limits and closer monitoring are also on the group’s agenda along with concerns about towers restricting access for firefighting aircraft.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/02/18/new-lobby-group-wants-tighter-wind-turbine-controls/