| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Wind Power News: Australia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Planning rules blow away key NSW wind farm
NSW’s planning regulations for renewable energy projects have been blamed for causing the demise of a major wind farm proposed in the Central Tablelands. The Australian arm of UK-headquartered RES Group has formally informed federal regulators that it had withdrawn its proposal to develop the Barneys Reef wind farm north of Gulgong. The wind farm was expected to include 63 turbines and generated 441 megawatts of energy each year; it had been classed as a development of state significance. It . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine fire safety fears spark urgent call for Allan govt to step in
The Allan government is facing calls for an urgent audit of Victoria’s 2500 wind turbines amid fears they lack critical fire safety equipment. Ahead of the upcoming bushfire season, concerns are mounting over the safety measures in place to protect both regional communities and key infrastructure from potential fire hazards. As the government rolls out another 900 turbines over the next decade and faces an ongoing fight over constructing powerlines through western Victoria to connect turbines to the Melbourne grid, . . . Complete story »
Labor’s bid to strip property rights for more wind farms must be stopped
Nationals candidate for Calare, Sam Farraway, is demanding Labor immediately abandon plans to strip Central West families of their rights to protect their land and livelihoods against the forced imposition of wind farms. The NSW Labor Government is said to be considering new laws that would curtail the powers of landowners who want to fight to stop wind farm developments in their community and near farming land. Mr Farraway slammed the proposal as an outrageous attack on the hardworking families . . . Complete story »
Golden Plains wind farm: Bits of turbine blades go flying
Turbines on Victoria’s largest wind farm development are falling to bits, with pieces of serrated edging falling off its blades and flying across neighbouring farm paddocks and roads. Russell Coad, whose Barunah farm abutts the massive Golden Plains wind farm project, said he and his son had found dozens of pieces of turbine edging blown onto their property. “I found some 750m from the turbine,” Mr Coad said. “There were even pieces next to the (Barunah) CFA station, which has . . . Complete story »
Ganging up on rural communities – through legislation: Victorian planning provisions
The Victorian Government and the Wind Industry have got together to gang up on Rural Communities through legislation. The Victorian Government and the Wind Industry know that Rural Communities will suffer at the hands of wind farms. So, to prevent legal backlash, they have colluded to legislate against them. Wind Energy Amendments – Victorian Legislation Amendment VC261 (gazetted 4 April 2024) expands the operation of the existing Development Facilitation Program (DFP) planning provisions that fast-track the assessment of significant economic . . . Complete story »
Hidden wind turbine decommissioning costs a risk for farmers
Farmers enticed by the financial benefits of hosting wind turbines on their property may be lumped with the cost of decommissioning the infrastructure at the end of its lifespan, Member for Mallee Anne Webster warned today, echoing the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s previous alert that wind turbine earnings could be outweighed by the removal costs. While total fees earned for hosting a wind turbine for 25 years could yield farmers $250,000-$750,000, figures from the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner indicate decommissioning . . . Complete story »
Steve Martin: State Government has gone missing in wind farm debate
Has anyone in the Cook Labor Government been paying attention to what is going on with some of the planning issues around wind farms? Regional communities and their local governments, where most of the renewable heavy lifting will occur, are scrambling to deal with the flood of planning and development proposals heading their way from eager proponents keen to jump on the Government-mandated push for less carbon emissions in our energy grid. How can we be talking about putting wind . . . Complete story »
Ark Energy shelves Armidale wind farm project after landholders change their minds
A wind farm that was proposed for north-west New South Wales is one of many that may never be operational, according to an energy expert. Ark Energy, which was behind a bid to build a 55-turbine Doughboy Wind Farm, 50 kilometres east of Armidale, said in a statement last month the decision to withdraw the project was made “following a change of mind” from some of the nine landowners whose properties took in the project’s boundaries. “Ark Energy maintains that . . . Complete story »
Farmers, rural Victorians protest against Jacinta Allan at Bendigo
Hundreds of farmers have rallied in Bendigo to urge Premier Jacinta Allan to rethink the Victorian Government’s approach to renewable and mining development. More than 400 farmers and rural residents took part in the rally within the Premier’s Bendigo East electorate, ahead of Ms Allan’s presentation to a Rural Press Club of Victoria function. Ms Allan was flanked by farmers and needed a police escort as she attempted to leave the site via vehicle following her presentation. Two controversial projects . . . Complete story »
Environmentalists call out double standards between farmers and wind farms
Central Queensland’s first wind power farm has now installed over 30 wind turbines, but one environmental group said they see a “double standard” between wind farms and their neighbours. Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek Wind Farm is located between Mackay and Rockhampton, along the Broadsound range. Acting general manager of delivery at Squadron Energy, Dan Banovic, said in a statement they have between 350-400 contractors on site working daily. “We recently celebrated the successful installation of our 33rd wind turbine in . . . Complete story »
