Grabben Gullen wind farm

Goulburn Post
Wednesday 12/9/2007 Page: 10

The proposal for another wind farm, over four sites near Grabben Gullen, has been lodged with the State Government. But the company behind the proposal - Epuron - could not specify how many turbines would be in the final proposal. "The director general of the NSW Department of Planning will shortly prepare its requirements and issue these to Epuron," an Epuron spokesperson said. "Once these requirements have been issued Epuron will commence preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment, which will be lodged together with the DA."

Upper Lachlan Shire Council (ULSC) has sent a submission to the State Government detailing its concerns over the project, which would be located 25km northwest of Goulburn on four ridges of the Gullen Range at Kialla, Gurrundah, Bannister, and Pomeroy. The council has asked the Planning Department to ensure certain issues are addressed in its environmental assessment of the project.

These include: compliance with the council's Wind Power Generation DCP, impacts on the Crookwell airstrip, impacts of the illumination of the turbines, noise generation, social disturbance to the local community, impact on the ULSC economy, structural adequacy of the towers, impact in the landscape (more than just visual aspects), impact on land values, and impacts in local roads and transport routes.

Following the preliminary reports, Epuron will take their final proposal to the local community in a series of open house sessions planned for later in the year. "This Open House will provide details of proposed turbine locations, and results of planning work to date including noise assessment, visual impact assessment and flora and fauna assessments," the spokesperson said.