Saturday 5 August 2006

Campbell reconsiders wind farm ban

Friday August 4, 12:39 PM

The Federal Environment Minister, Ian Campbell, has agreed to set aside his decision to scrap a wind farm planned for South Gippsland in Victoria. In April, Senator Campbell overturned Victorian Government approval for a 52 wind turbine farm at Bald Hills.

Senator Campbell said he scrapped the project to protect the orange-bellied parrot.

But the Victorian Government attacked the decision because a consultant's report estimated that at worst, only one parrot would be put at risk about every 600 years. "We believe that he hadn't shown due regard for process and we have been vindicated," Victorian Planning Minister Rob Hulls said.

Proponents of wind power have agreed to drop a legal challenge against the decision because Senator Campbell has agreed to consider new information on the proposal. "I think it's a good outcome for taxpayers and a good outcome for the environment," he said. Mr Hulls says Senator Campbell's move to reconsider the decision proves it was politically motivated.

"This Minister has used his position and the federal legislation as nothing more than his political plaything," he said. The Federal Government will also pay the company's legal costs.

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