Upset over Rye Park windfarm meeting 

The proposed windfarm at Rye Park has been met with mixed opinions.

Resident, Jane Apps says if the community does not act the turbines will ruin the environment.

“The environmental impact will be quite large, the fact that they’re still going ahead despite that is not good,” she said.

“We have spent millions on a superb parrot habitat, they’re going to destroy that.

“It is a known nesting place for the superb parrot.”

Ms Apps says she will be able to see the wind turbines from her home.

“I would say the value of my property has halved since the windfarm was announced,” she said.

“The turbines are in view and we will see them.”

Trustpower is the company behind the latest effort to create a windfarm in the region.

They are upset with the “thuggish” behaviour that came about at an information day in Rye Park recently.

“It is disappointing almost beyond belief that this sort of thuggish, intimidatory behaviour should be tolerated by the community,” said Trustpower’s Wind Generation Development Manager Rontheo Van Zyl.

Mr Van Zyl says he was personally threatened with violence.

“We believe that people have every right to protest against wind farms, or anything else for that matter, but not in a way that threatens people, intimidates them or prevents them from finding out more information.

“It is necessary because it’s obvious that some people in the community have been subjected to considerable misinformation both about the proposed Rye Park Wind Farm and wind farms in general – and this small, unrepresentative group is clearly behind that.

“One of the purposes in holding an information day such as this is to give people a chance to hear other people asking questions and hearing the answers in an open and transparent environment,” Mr Van Zyl said.

“It is shameful that this group should seek to prevent that from happening rather than engaging in meaningful discussion.”

Mr Van Zyl said members of the group had also been seen attempting to urinate on one of Trustpower’s vehicles.

Trustpower had anticipated some disruptions in the day as they had been receiving telephone calls from upset residents.

To reduce the chance of any negative behaviour they hired some security on the day.

Ms Apps says that the presence of security was not called for.

“I arrived at about 5.30pm, after I finished work, a man who to me was obviously a bouncer was standing at the front door watching me,” she said

“A verbal altercation between a visitor and staff broke out, however their was no physical contact.

“The visitor was concerned that Trustpower were not answering their questions honestly.”

“I’m angry at their accusations that it was a deliberate attempt at upsetting the meeting I felt intimidated walking into the hall.

“If they want to be a part of this community for the next 25 years they need to stop agonising us, and apologise for what happened last Tuesday,” she said.

Trustpower is proud of their commitment to provide sustainable, environmentally friendly energy and will continue to move forward with their project.

They say that the Rye Park area was chosen as a location for wind turbines because of its exposed windy ridges, cleared grazing land and proximity to the national electricity grid.

Members of the community wanting more information on the project are encouraged to: – visit the project website www.ryeparkwf.com.au – contact the Project Team on 1800 839 661 – or email ryeparkwindfarm@trustpower.com.au.