‘Horrified’ residents speak out against Sunny Corner wind farm proposal 

Sunny Corner residents say their health and overall quality of life will be at risk if a proposal for a wind farm proceeds.

Proponent Someva Renewables, though, has refuted some of the claims and maintains the project will deliver benefits for the community.

A group of residents, armed with posters, brought their concerns to Bathurst Regional Council’s April 2, 2025 policy committee meeting.

The proposal came to light in May 2024, when it was revealed that Global energy company Mainstream Renewable Power and Australian developer Someva were awarded a permit by the Forestry Corporation of NSW to jointly investigate a wind farm at Sunny Corner.

Mainstream and Someva said the wind farm, once fully operational, could power an estimated 300,000 NSW homes and save more than one million tonnes of carbon from being released each year.

The scoping report shows plans for 80 turbines, which would be as high as 285 metres. Some turbines would be within a few hundred metres of properties. At the April 2 Bathurst council meeting, residents outlined a long list of concerns they have about the proposal, including noise, decreasing property values, visual impact, health impacts, pollution, and possible threats to flora and fauna.

Long-time Sunny Corner resident Melinda Mills said she and other residents were “horrified by the number of turbines and their proximity to our homes”. Ms Mills said the turbines would create noise that leads to sleep disturbance and other adverse health effects.

Another resident, who identified herself only as Maggie, said she had spoke to someone who lives near a wind farm who reported members of their family experiencing migranes and nausea. “She fears for the day she’s informed of long term damage for herself, her children or her animals,” she said.

The Western Advocate asked Someva about the potential noise impacts. In response, managing director Jamie Chivers said “there’s no scientific evidence linking turbine noise to adverse health effects”.

He also said the Sunny Corner wind farm would follow the NSW Wind Energy Guidelines to ensure noise impacts are assessed, managed and mitigated. “We will be monitoring noise levels from different locations around the proposed project site,” Mr Chivers said. “If the project is approved, we will continue to monitor and manage noise levels to remain compliant with these guidelines.”

In addition to noise impacting their health, residents also raised concerns about the potential degradation of the turbine blades and the impact that might have on water.

“Once completed, there will be leading edge blade degradation to contend with, causing polyurethanes and microplastics from the epoxy blades to land on our homes, in our water and on our soil,” Ms Mills said.

Mr Chivers said this claim “is not supported by evidence”. “It is also worth noting that the vast majority of a turbine can be recycled (85 to 94 per cent) and industry-wide innovations are underway to further advance blade recycling which currently include bus shelters,” he said.

Another major concern among residents is increased fire risk. Ms Mills said building a wind farm in a soft pine plantation is “a recipe for disaster”, while Kirralee Scott, whose family has a farm at Meadow Flat, said the “fire risk would be phenomenal”. “If a fire were to occur, it would have a devastating impact on our communities,” Ms Scott said.

Mr Chivers said bushfire management is a priority for Someva. He said evidence shows that wind farms are highly unlikely to cause or worsen bushfires, adding that built-in lightning protection systems and strict safety protocols ensure turbines do not pose additional risks.

“The Forestry Corporation of NSW, as a firefighting authority, manages fire risk in state forests and has carefully considered renewable energy proposals through this lens,” he said. “The project must also complete an independent Bushfire Risk Assessment, which typically suggests preparing a Bushfire Emergency Management and Operations Plan. Our community benefits program is investigating contributing to enhancing regional bushfire response capabilities.”

The location of the proposed wind farm has been heavily criticised by residents. “This is not a typical location for a wind farm,” a resident, who identified herself as Louisa, said. “This is not the owner of an expansive land holding entering into a consensual arrangement with a wind energy company in exchange for a significant and new income stream.

“By putting this power plant in the state forest, surrounded by homes, these locals are non-consensual parties who will have to wear the consequences of this imposition.”

Regarding the location, Mr Chivers said it was selected because the softwood pine plantation in Sunny Corner State Forest has strong and consistent wind and good access to grid infrastructure. The layout of the turbines presented in the scoping report is not final. “We are working with the community to refine the layout and deliver benefits locally,” Mr Chivers said.

Someva and residents disagree about how much community consultation is being under taken. During the April 2 meeting, one resident said property owners whose boundaries neighbour the forest have not been directly spoken to, called, or received mail or any other form of communication about the project.

When the Western Advocate asked Someva about its consultation process. In addition to community consultation sessions, Mr Chivers said Someva doorknocked and mailbox dropped neighbours throughout Sunny Corner, Dark Corner and Yetholme. “We have letterboxed 300 nearest neighbours in Sunny Corner, Dark Corner and Yetholme,” he said. “We are currently meeting with near neighbours and arranging consultations. These include using TrueView augmented reality software (iPad based) so locals can see what the proposed turbines might look like in the landscape, from locations of their choosing.”

Someva is currently developing the Environmental Impact Statement, including technical and environmental studies and continued community consultation. A draft of the document is expected to be released in 2026, with opportunities for public submissions to follow.

“If approved, construction is proposed to commence in 2028, and operations in 2030,” Mr Chivers said. For now, Someva says it is continuing its public consultation.

Meanwhile, residents are pushing for the wind farm proposal to be assessed and determined by the NSW Independent Planning Commission rather than the state government. One of the ways this could happen is if a minimum of 50 unique objections are received during the exhibition period. Another is if a local council objects to the project, which residents are lobbying the councils in Bathurst and Lithgow to do.