August 26, 2016
Australia

Rye Park funding area disputed

Crookwell Gazette | 26 Aug 2016 | www.crookwellgazette.com.au

The draft agreement for the Community Enhancement Funding area will stay at 20 kilometres from a turbine, despite strong objections by one resident.

The Rye Park wind farm spreads across the boundary of Upper Lachlan and the former Boorowa Shire (now Hilltops).

At last Upper Lachlan Council meeting, Planning Director Mrs. Tina Dodson reported that four submissions had been received on the original draft agreement which was publicly exhibited.

One submission, from Christine Hawkins, of Blakney Creek, on the Rye Park Road, strongly opposed extending the accredited area to 20 kilometres, declaring that it should be restricted to 10 kilometres.

Ms Hawkins wrote: “The reference in the press by the Mayor, Cr. Shaw, that it should be expanded to 20 kms due to the sparse population around the wind farm site, demonstrates the poor regard that the Council has for its residents on the fringes of the Council area.

“To increase the area to 20 kms will further disadvantage the members of the community who will be impacted by the Rye Park wind farm.”

Ms Hawkins made the further point that those living within 10 kms of the wind farm would be those disadvantaged by increased traffic and deteriorating roads during construction.

“At the very least projects within 10 kms should be given priority to projects further afield,” Ms Hawkins wrote.

She concluded that the Community Enhancement Committee should include permanent residents within 5 kilometres of the turbines in Upper Lachlan area, to ensure they have a say in the distribution of funds should the wind farm be approved.

A submission from Andrew Field, also of Blakney Creek, went further and thought at least one person living within 2 kms of a turbine should be on the committee.

And he considered the $2,500 per turbine contribution by the wind farm developer (Rye Park Renewable Energy Pty Ltd) “a joke” as it “would not fund the road repairs or an environmental disaster – “Council should be asking for $25,000 per tower, and that still would not be enough.” Mr. Field claimed.

Mr. Field claimed the money should be spent within a 5kms radius – “and benefit the people that are going to be most affected.”

The finalised draft agreement will now go to the project developers web site for approval.

The Wind Farm will be located west of Yass, with of up to 134 turbines.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/08/26/rye-park-funding-area-disputed/