March 29, 2019
Australia
Australia
Moyne councillors concerned about safety of wind farm transmission lines in shire after incident at Noorat
Monique Patterson | The Standard | March 29 2019 | www.standard.net.au
Monique Patterson | The Standard | March 29 2019 | www.standard.net.au
Moyne Shire Council is set to encourage Tilt Renewables to make amendments to its proposed Dundonnell wind farm and put its transmission lines underground.
Councillor Daniel Meade said a motion was passed at Tuesday night’s meeting to ask officers to provide a report on a recent incident where a transmission line fell onto a roadside near Noorat.
Officers have also been asked to investigate how the council can urge the company to change its plans.
“We want to get a report about what we can do to make sure the transmission lines go underground from now on, following the lead of the Mortlake South wind farm,” Cr Meade said.
He said he believed Tilt Renewables should amend its plan and put the lines for its project underground.
“Putting them underground will reduce the danger, reduce the fire risk and reduce the burden on the landscape,” Cr Meade said.
Corangamite Shire residents expressed concern last week after a transmission line for the Salt Creek wind farm fell on the road side near Noorat.
Cr Meade said councillors were concerned a similar incident could happen in their shire.
In November 2018, Moyne Shire councillors voted to oppose any more wind farms in the shire until the state government adopted recommendations to avoid having multiple wind farms in one location.
At that meeting, Cr Jim Doukas called for a motion to be passed stating the council’s opposition to any further wind farms but that was not passed.
At this week’s Moyne Shire Council meeting, councillors also voted to sell Lot 21 at the Mortlake Industrial Estate, the Old Mepunga East Tennis Court Reserve, the Old St Helens Tennis Court and the former Yambuk Maternal and Child Health Care Centre.