| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Coronial inquiry will address unanswered questions over Currandooley fire
Credit: Goulburn Post | November 9 2017 | www.goulburnpost.com.au ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
The grass may be growing back around Tarago and Mount Fairy, but looks can be deceptive.
The devastating January 17 Currandooley fire destroyed valuable pasture, core breeding stock, structures and livelihoods. Tim De Mestre’s Merigan property was one of the most heavily affected when fire tore through most of his 950-acre holding, destroyed windbreaks, 30km of fencing and injuring stock. Thankfully, the homestead was saved.
Almost 10 months on, Mr De Mestre told the Post the farm had been slow to recover: “It has been a hard winter on the stock without decent ground cover. A lot of the pine breaks, paddock trees and oaks are also not recovering. But repairs are ongoing and we look forward to a good spring and summer – without any more fires.”
It does well to remember people’s experience because big questions remain over the blaze. Wind farm company Infigen denies culpability and will vigorously defend both civil and coronial proceedings. But at the very least the fire’s cause exposes the need for fire mitigation around high-voltage lines whether on a wind farm or somewhere else. Given the proliferation of wind farms in this region, any coronial recommendations on this point would at least reassure the community of maximum protection efforts.
Infigen has a fight on its hands with a class action representing 27 parties also underway in the NSW Supreme Court. The company will argue that birds commonly catch fire from high-voltage lines and it cannot be blamed for this fact alone.
But a coronial inquiry will likely delve much deeper, investigating whether materials and design may be improved.
It’s essential for everyone’s sake that this inquiry goes ahead.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=85347 ]
