April 18, 2015
Australia

Shots fired at Waubra wind farm

By Kara Irving | The Courier | April 18, 2015 | www.thecourier.com.au

Maintenance workers have been put at risk by people shooting at Waubra wind turbines.

Acciona Australia has asked police to investigate incidents of people taking aim at its Waubra Wind Farm turbines over the last two months.

A company spokesman said shooting at the turbines posed significant safety risks for its workers.

“Acciona takes employee and contractor health and safety, as well as safety in the local community, very seriously,” a spokesman said.

“Any person that has knowledge or information that could assist in the police investigation should contact Crime Stoppers or Ballarat Police.”

The company could not confirm how many of its 128 wind turbines had been shot.

No workers, contractors or members of the public had been injured as a result of the incident.

Australian Wind Alliance national coordinator Andrew Bray said it was the first shooting incident he had heard of at wind farms.

“I have heard of incidents where people had vandalised property around the wind farms, but this is a first for me,” he said.

There had been no significant damage to the 80-metre-tall turbines as a result of the shooting.

All Waubra Wind Farm turbines have one narrow elevator and stairs for workers.

Acciona Australia opened the wind farm near the Sunraysia Highway in 2009.

The wind farm is located 35 kilometres north-west of Ballarat.

A Victoria Police spokesman said comment would not be available until Monday.

Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/18/shots-fired-at-waubra-wind-farm/