The Age, Page: 5
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
LAWRENCE Gallagher was grinning yesterday despite a cold, strong wind that was doing its best to cut into his bones. For Mr Gallagher - and 29 other farmers and landowners in the Waubra region just north of Ballarat - that wind means money. Their properties will be the location for Spanish group Acciona's 128-turbine wind farm. Mr Gallagher will have six turbines on his 320 and 200-hectare properties.
At $7000 per tower a year, indexed for inflation, that's an extra $42,000 income. "We see them as drought-proofing our property," he said. Like many farmers in the region, Mr Gallagher runs sheep and lambs, and harvests potatoes. The past decade has been a killer, with the last year particularly dry.
Only last weekend's rain put a nice green tinge on the bare hills and paddocks. The dry weather has also made Mr Gallagher, 44, more conscious of global warming, with the threat of future drier seasons. He sees the wind farm as a way to help cut carbon dioxide emissions.
"It's a start. I know China and India and others will be creating emissions, but we are making a start to fix the problem," he said. Mr Gallagher is also happy that the wind farm will bring money to the community in Waubra, which will receive $500 per tower. The primary school, fire brigade, horticultural society and football club will be among the beneficiaries. Locals will also have the chance to obtain some of the jobs that will be available to maintain the turbines.
Mr Gallagher acknowledged that there had been opponents of the wind farm. "They thought land and house prices would be badly affected, but that hasn't happened," he said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment