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Opposition at Stanley’s Town Hall to Western Plains Wind Farm
Credit: Molly Appleton | The Advocate | June 22 2021 | www.theadvocate.com.au ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Tractors and boats on the main street of Stanley drove home a unified message, ‘No Wind Turbines, Respect Stanley Peninsula’.
More than 100 people protested on the steps of Stanley’s Town Hall as Epuron opened the doors to a community information session for its Western Plains Wind Farm project.
Stanley resident Kristen Smith said the response opposing the wind farm had been resounding, particularly with the Epuron meeting scheduled at 4 o’clock on a Tuesday.
“It’s Stanley very clearly saying they do not want this wind farm, and people are going well outside their comfort zone to show how they feel,” Mrs Smith said.
Circular Head fisherman Mick Murphy said he was concerned about the impact the wind farm would have on tourism.
“Being a fish seller, that’s where my livelihood is. No tourists, no money,” Mr Murphy said.
He said that there were better areas for the wind farms to go.
Stanley farmer Robert Smith said he was protesting because the windfarm would interrupt the view from his property, devaluing his land.
“I can see Three Hammock island and all the island, once a windfarm goes there I won’t see a thing,” Mr Smith said.
Tasmanian Wine and Food owner Michael Pine said as a local business owner there was pluses and minuses for the project.
“Initially with the construction phase there will be pluses as there will be more people in town. But unfortunately they will not stay permanently.
“And then we are left with the scars left in the landscape that they have used to construct this as Stanley is a unique and pristine environment.
“I don’t believe this is the correct place for wind farms.”
Concerns were raised from Stanley residents that electricity generated would go interstate.
Epuron executive director Martin Poole said the energy created from the project would be put into the Tasmanian electricity grid.
Mr Poole said the Town Hall meeting was a good opportunity for the project to be properly understood, to listen to people’s concerns and address those in planning.
“There are concerns over the visual impact,” Mr Poole said.
“The project is not visible for most of Stanley.”
There were a series of photomontages on boards at the session with impressions of how the windfarm would look from town and the Nut.
“I think there was some confusion over the size of these turbines compared to the project up the coast at Robins Island.
“These turbines will be 150 metres tall to the very top of the tip, when they’re pointing straight up.”
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