Windfarm Is A Goer

Crows Nest Advertiser
Tuesday 19/12/2006 Page: 1

"Considerable environmental and economic benefits for region" - Mayor Judge Wilson in the Planning and Environment Court has issued a consent order providing planning approval for a 75-turbine wind farm proposed for Crow's Nest and Rosalie shires.

A development approval for the project issued by Crow's Nest Shire Council on October 7, 2005, had been subject to appeal. Wind farm developer Allco Wind Energy will now seek a power purchase agreement. Allco said the project could be operating within 18 months of obtaining a power purchase agreement.

Discussions were currently under way with the State Government on a proposal for power distribution companies to secure a percentage of their supply from renewable resources with the State. Currently the Victorian, South Australian and West Australian governments had these arrangements in place.

Allco said the Crow's Nest-Rosalie project would produce enough power to supply the Darling Downs, including Toowoomba. Crow's Nest Shire Mayor Geoff Patch praised all parties involved in the legal process: "It was gratifying to see that the applicant, the appellants, Crow's Nest and Rosalie shire councils and the Department of Natural Resources were able to sit down and arrive at a consensus, thus avoiding a lengthy and costly court hearing." Cr Patch said he fully supported the project. "The wind farm will have considerable environmental and economic benefits for the region.

"Not only will it save many millions of tonnes of greenhouse gases in the life of the project, but also twice the water usage of our whole shire each year of operation - compared with coal produced power." More than $100 million would be spent in the region during construction, and a significant number of local jobs would be created, Cr Patch said.

"The project will also considerably enhance the tourism potential of our shire." No Wind Farm group spokesman Jim Harper said he did not wish to flag the group's future intentions, but added: "All Australians have a right to appropriate development, and they have a right to see this development in the nature and the process of it. There's plenty for us to do in that regard.

"There are serious matters in this wind farm, and the people responsible for it, and there are plenty of other avenues to deal with these matters," Mr Harper said.

Crow's Nest Council CEO David McEvoy said he understood the only way of changing the Planning and Environment Court approval would be by appeal to a higher court on a point of law. "I think any suggestion the decision is appealable is basically incorrect," Mr McEvoy said.