February 9, 2017
Australia

Queanbeyan-Palerang Council takes stance against planned wind farm

Local council makes move to stop planned wind farm | By Jana Black | ABC News | February 9, 2017 | www.abc.net.au

A wind farm planned near Tarago, south of Goulburn, may not go ahead if a local council has its way.

The Jupiter wind farm, set to host 88 turbines, is currently under consideration by the NSW planning authorities.

Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council said it would oppose the project, citing noise pollution and increased bushfire danger among its concerns.

The council’s administrator Tim Overall said there were 250 properties in the area that would be affected.

“Fifty-nine of those will be severely or moderately impacted,” Mr Overall said.

“So council resolved last night to oppose this development application on a number of grounds and we had present at the meeting some 15 residents, many of whom made presentations,” he said.

The area is described as broad acre farming land, ranging from five-hectare to 40-hectare properties.

Jupiter wind farm would consist of three-blade turbines that are about 173 metres tall.

The entire wind farm would stretch across 4,999 hectares and would be capable of supplying more than 30 megawatts of electrical power.

“Council in general is supportive of renewable energy projects and wind farms but on broad acreage, not on rural residential areas,” Mr Overall said.

“So we’re opposed to this project being in a rural residential area with severe impacts.”

It would extend from five kilometres south-east of Tarago to nine kilometres south of the intersection of the Goulburn-Braidwood Road and the Kings Highway.

Mr Overall said residents were concerned about noise, traffic impacts, particularly on main access roads and the visual impact.

The project would cross into the Goulburn-Mulwaree Council region.

A Goulburn-Mulwaree Council spokesman said councillors would be considering the proposal at the next council meeting later this month.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/02/09/queanbeyan-palerang-council-takes-stance-against-planned-wind-farm/