June 14, 2019
Australia

Neighbours offered deal to negate wind farm impacts

Clare McCabe | Crookwell Gazette | June 14 2019 | www.crookwellgazette.com.au

There are 19 landholders eligible for annual payments, up to $5000, to negate impacts of Biala Wind Farm.

Proprietor, BJCE Australia, said landholders within 3 kilometres of a turbine are eligible to sign up.

The program is split into three bands and is dependent on a properties distance to the nearest turbine, but not the number of turbines. The annual payments range from $1500 to $5000.

BJCE Australia’s deputy general manager, Derek Powell said neighbour agreements seek to offset the impact of the wind farm on its closest neighbours.

Eligible landholders have been contacted.

“We’ve engaged with all of the eligible neighbours about the program and many have expressed interest. We haven’t yet reached the stage of asking them whether they definitely want to be involved or not. That will happen soon,” Mr Powell said.

Construction of the wind farm commenced on May 21 with upgrades to Range Road, between the intersections of Kialla and Grabben Gullen Roads.

The work is expected to take three months, according to BJCE Australia.

“The wind farm is expected to be fully operational and generating electricity into the grid by the end of 2020.”

Crookwell 2 host landholder Charlie Prell said, “If the neighbour agreements are fair and transparent I would encourage people to become part of the project, they should do that after they have sought independent legal advice which the proponent should pay for.”

Mr Prell said it’s up to the entire community to get a fair return.

“In my opinion, fair needs to be a reasonable offer from the wind farm in relation particularly to people who can hear noise from turbines, and people who can see the turbines.”

He advised that all of the property agreements should be based on the same formula.

“I would be encouraging the neighbours to collectively bargain along with the hosts,” Mr Prell said.

He also added that the annual payments should be indexed per turbine.

If a reader believes they may be eligible for a neighbour agreement they are encouraged to email or call BJCE Australia by phone: 0429 614 297 or email: info@bialawindfarm.com.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/06/14/neighbours-offered-deal-to-negate-wind-farm-impacts/