‘Noise is noise’ calls for wind farms to comply with noise limit regulations 

As more renewable energy projects arrive in Queensland, landholders and Agforce are calling on the state government to ensure wind farms comply with the same policies as other developments to reduce excessive noise.

As of Friday, March 21, there was no requirement for wind farms to adhere to established noise limits that apply to other industries, under the Department of Environment & Heritage Protection’s policy. AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said the double standard was absurd.

“It’s unacceptable that wind farms in Queensland are not required to comply with the noise criteria stipulated in the environmental protection (noise) policy 2019 guidelines – unlike all other industries in Queensland,” Mr Guerin said. “That includes the coal and gas industry, which is required to comply with the noise policy.”

Rather than adhering to the department’s policy, wind farms are managed by acoustic criteria in state code 23, which representatives of AgForce said means the DEHP has no statutory powers when assessing noise pollution emitted by developments.

In the Western Downs, property owners have watched as renewable projects have started development, in an area dubbed Queensland’s energy capital. Construction is continuing at the Wambo wind farm, near Jandowae, within sight of cattle buyer Glen Franz’s elderly parents’ home on their cattle property Wellburn. Once phase two is completed, there will be 12 turbines within three kilometres of the residence. They are already concerned that the noise will be loud enough that they will need to consider moving away.

“[Wambo wind farm] said they did give consideration to the neighbours, but they’re all surrounding us around our boundary and none really close to their dwellings. So it is a major concern of mine,” Mr Franz said. “For my own peace of mind, I would like an independent noise expert to come and monitor this, and I’d like the state government to revisit the noise policy, and make it compliant with other industries, whether it be gas, coal, industrial. It can’t be a rule for one entity and a rule for everyone else, it’s got to be a level playing field.”

The Wambo wind farm is a joint venture between Cubico Sustainable Investments and government-owned corporation, Stanwell. Mr Franz said not only do neighbours reap none of the benefits of compensation for turbines, it could also end up costing them money. “I’m not anti-renewables, but there’s a place for them and it’s not in people’s backyards where it’s going to affect their wellbeing,” Mr Franz said. “I think it’s a big devaluation on our asset, if we ever look to sell it. Not everyone wants to live beside a wind farm.”

Nearby, Fiona Duff and her husband Rob run a cattle and cropping operation at Witelma, which also neighbours the Wambo Wind Farm. When fully constructed, they will have six turbines within three kilometres of their house, the closest just 1.6km away. Ms Duff said in some conditions they can already hear the turbines of the Coopers Gap wind farm 10km away.

“These are huge [turbines at Wambo]. They’re 247 metres tall; you have no idea what that’s going to be like,” she said. Ms Duff and Mr Franz are working with Wambo to involve an independent noise expert, hoping for a clearer idea of what to expect, but the process has been challenging.

“This community engagement business that they have claimed they are doing, has been an absolute farce. It has just been them telling us what they are going to do,” Ms Duff said. “None of this community engagement has actually listened to what we have said.”

In a statement from the Wambo Wind Farm, a spokesperson said the team regularly provided information and responded to inquiries from the community. “When the time comes to undertake compliance monitoring during the wind farm operations, we will share those results,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Franz and Ms Duffs’ fears about the noise have been exacerbated after they witnessed the growth of another windfarm just a few kilometres away. David Greenup, from Rosevale, neighbours the Cooper’s Gap wind farm and the Wambo wind farm and said lessons have already been learned, and simple changes could reduce anxiety in the community and prevent issues arising in the future.

“Before there’s too much investment in these developments, to safeguard the community, the setback from residences should be extended out past the current code,” Mr Greenup said. “To prevent people in really closely settled areas that neighbour the wind farms from being surrounded by turbines and having no choice in the matter.”

Mr Greenup said the topography should also be taken into account when considering changes to the noise code. “We’ve probably got six or seven in line of sight from one of our houses, which are at the top of a valley, and when the prevailing winds are from the east, then that noise from those towers come directly to the house,” Mr Greenup said.

“But to the north of the house, there’s probably closer turbines, or just as close turbines, but because there’s a big hill behind the house, they don’t tend to affect us anywhere to the same degree as some of the others that are further away but in the same line of sight.”

A spokesperson for the Wambo wind farm said despite not adhering to the Department of Environment’s policy, they are required to meet noise requirements as set out in development approval conditions to ensure noise will not negatively impact local residents.

The spokesperson said a comprehensive noise modelling assessment was undertaken and submitted to state planning authorities as part of the development approval process for the project. Once the wind farm begins operations, specialist acoustic science experts will measure and report on the noise levels at different times and locations to ensure the noise requirements are being adhered to.

“Should noise from Wambo wind farm exceed the approval limits, the project will immediately implement measures to bring noise levels back to within the approved limits,” the spokesperson said.

However, AgForce representatives said the approved limits, as set out by code 23, were not enforceable by the Department of Environment and did not adhere to best practice. Under the code, the permitted maximum noise level for a non-host property at night is 35 decibels, while the World Health Organisation guidelines recommend bedrooms having less than 30 decibels to allow for good quality sleep.

Mr Franz and Ms Duff hope the state government will listen to AgForce’s request to change the current regulations, which includes extending the minimum setback distance from 1.5 kilometres significantly. AgForce also alleged in a statement that the previous state government knew the buffer distance was not adequate.

“AgForce is aware that the previous ALP government ignored its own noise expert’s advice at the time of developing the code, who stated: “wind masking has been applied as if it was masking noise of similar frequencies and this is not the case …

“The distance of 1500m as a buffer will not be sufficient for the current size of wind turbine. This distance had originated years ago for much smaller size turbines and at the time was probably a correct distance.”

A spokesperson from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning said regulating renewables “by putting local communities back at the decision-making table” was a key priority for the state government.

“The first phase of our election commitment [is] being implemented [by] delivering mandatory community consultation and appeal rights for all new proposed wind farm developments in Queensland,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to consult with local government, communities and industry as the next phase of reforms are implemented to ensure local communities and councils are given the rights to ensure their voices and concerns are addressed.”

However, for Ms Duff at Jandowae, any policy changes now felt too late for her, but she hoped no one else would have to face the same stress. “My primary goal is trying to protect other people from going through what we have gone through,” she said.

“It’s too late for us now, these turbines are up. But if we can help some other communities, then at least I’ve done something.”