Like it or not, windfarm is a goer

Albany Advertiser
Tuesday 20/5/2008 Page: 5

DENMARK'S controversial windfarm has been creating major turbulence ever since Ocean Beach was chosen as its location. But the project is set to go ahead regardless of community objections. Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has confirmed a decision will be made about access to the proposed site within four to six weeks.

The Denmark Shire will vote at its meeting next Tuesday on whether it will support the department's request to allow access to the site through an 'A' class reserve. But the vote will have little effect on the Minister's decision. Ms MacTiernan said the Denmark Shire Council was asked to comment on the proposal and would take into consideration any arguments it had not already considered.

"Under the Land Administration Act we are required to consult with the local authorities, which is what we are doing," she said. But ultimately the decision will be made in Parliament because the site is on Crown land. Ms MacTiernan said Ocean Beach was chosen for "very good reasons" and acknowledged there was opposition to the location but likened it to the situation before the Albany windfarm was built.

"People were opposed to the Albany windfarm because of its picturesque location, but now they love it." Ms MacTiernan said. South Coast Landscape Guardians Incorporated representative Peter Mortimer remains opposed to the location. "The decision to put the windfarm at Ocean Beach shows contempt for the community," he said.

"They provided seven other sites but they always wanted the answer to be Ocean Beach." Denmark Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said the Council did not support the proposed site, but did support renewable energy and believed a windfarm would solve many of Denmark's electricity issues.

Denmark Community Wind Farm chairman Craig Chappelle said once funding and approvals were in place a connection agreement be signed with Western Power. "When all these are in place we can order the turbines," Mr Chappelle said. But there will still be up to a two year wait for the delivery of the turbines due to the manufacturers' difficulty in keeping up with a growing worldwide demand.