New Wind Farm information day

Burra Broadcaster
Wednesday 9/4/2008 Page: 1

Last Wednesday representatives of AGL and Wind Prospects held a public exhibition at the Hallett Town Hall. The information day formed part of an on going consultation process with local Hallett residence and land holders within the Mount Bryan area. AGL's Major Projects Manager, Nigel Bean said the information day formed part of an extensive consultation process with local residents of Hallett and residents within a three kilometre radius of the proposed site.

In South Australia, AGL manages the Wattle Point Wind Farm and is currently constructing wind farms at Brown Hill near Jamestown and Hallett Hill adjacent to the Mount Bryan township. These wind farms together with Mount Bryan will all contribute to the Federal Government's target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020. At this stage, between 30 and 40 turbines are proposed for the Mount Bryan project.

The wind farm development would consist of the wind generators themselves along with an underground electrical cable network within the wind farm area itself and down the hills. A Community Trust Fund will also be established using earnings from the wind farm, for access by local community groups to support local projects. Other benefits to the regional community include a potential injection of work for regional businesses during the construction and operation of the wind farm. Construction manager Mr Timothy Knill whose company Wind Prospect Pty. Ltd. is acting as planning consultants for the project said he expected that submissions covering all aspects of the project should be with the Regional Council of Goyder by June this year.

There are still a number of site assessments to be conducted for all areas proposed which will contain electrical infrastructure including stobbie poles to carry the power to transformer and substations. They will include an ecological study, particularly in relation to native vegetation and communities that may be living along the proposed line route. Some land owners have expressed concern that the proposed route to the substation via powerlines will change the look of the landscape forever and would prefer them under ground.

They have also expressed concern that the powerlines may have on current farming practices including movement of stock damage to the current road infrastructure and crop dusting. Others residents expressed concerns about the effect on television and radio reception. One concerned landowner who did not wish to be named at this stage said,"I am only a little person up against a very big corporation. My family has planted hundreds of trees along parts of the proposed powerline route over many years and we now fear not only for them but for the beauty of the natural landscape for future generations." Timothy Knill said all residents and landowners concerns will be part of the consultative process before final submission to Council in June.