Shire to have wind farm phone survey

Goulburn Post
Monday 17/9/2007 Page: 2

Upper Lachlan Shire councillors have rejected a move to conduct a public meeting on the massive Epuron wind farm planned for north west of Goulburn. Cr John Coombs urged colleagues at last Thursday's council meeting in Collector to call a public meeting so that the feeling of "majority" of residents could be ascertained as a guide to council's policy on wind farms. However, this was rejected in favour of a "professional telephone survey".

Cr Coombs said the shire should adopt a firm stance one way or another on wind farms particularly as no action has yet occurred on other approved sites, leaving many residents of the area in limbo. If the developer is successful in its bid, the wind farm will stretch over 25km from south of Pomeroy to a point 6km south west of Crookwell. More than 80 turbines are planned for sites in the Pomeroy, Gurrundah and Kialla districts.

The proposed turbine towers are so high - at more than 85m - the Defence Department at Canberra is concerned that they could interfere with radar lines. Turbine height has also drawn the interest of the Civil Aviation authorities. Because the projected cost of the wind farm will be well beyond $30 million, approval will be in the hands of State Planning, not Upper Lachlan Shire or Goulburn-Mulwaree councils. And because of the demands for approval from a variety of authorities, from environmental to defence, Epuron Pty Ltd cannot see construction beginning until late 2009 or 2010.

The Planning Department has sought the Upper Lachlan's input for consideration with the application. Last month, Epuron Pty Ltd began the long and winding path to approval with a meeting of interested parties and site inspection. At Thursday's council meeting, the shire's environment and planning director Robert Mowle said State Planning had been advised that the council would require compliance with its Development Control Plan on wind farms, which included a stipulation that turbines be located at least 2km from any non-involved residence.

Other concerns included impact on the Crookwell air strip, noise levels, impact on land values, and routes for transport of plant and materials to the site. Access to the Pomeroy sites will be via Goulburn, and to the Gurrundah - Kialla areas through Crookwell. A brief report on Epuron Pty Ltd's plan will be furnished to Goulburn-Mulwaree councillors at their meeting tomorrow night.