Thursday 3 April 2008

Epuron sweetens wind farm deal

Barrier Daily Truth
Friday 28/3/2008 Page: 2

Epuron is moving forward with its plan to build the Silverton Wind Farm, and seems to be sweetening the deal for residents. The Silverton Village Committee met the company on Wednesday night at a community consultation. Committee secretary Albert Woodroffe said Epuron had raised the possibility of establishing a community fund if the project went ahead.

"Apparently this is one of the things power companies do when they move in to a new community," said Mr Woodroffe. Epuron would pay into the fund annually. Mr Woodroffe said it was not yet known what the money could be used for. He hopes it could be used to fund a water treatment plant, upgrade infrastructure at Penrose Park or restore an old bridge across Black Hill Creek to provide an emergency road out of the town in times of flood.

Epuron also offered to install and subsidise solar power and water systems for Silverton residents, Mr Woodroffe said. While this would score points with residents, Mr Woodroffe said the meeting got heated about placement of the wind farm, as some people felt it was going down "right on top of them."

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