Geelong Advertiser
Tuesday 13/5/2008 Page: 7
VANDALS have sent an 80-metre wind monitoring tower in Winchelsea crashing to the ground, causing about $100,000 damage. The destruction comes as the community continues to lobby against a proposal by Future Energy Pty Ltd to build 14 turbines in Gnarwarre, just outside Winchelsea. Geelong CIU Detective Sen-Constable Anthony Reyntjes said the incident happened on the weekend of May 3 and 4.
He said the tower, which contained electronic equipment for recording wind activity, was on the property where the proposed turbines would be erected. Sen-Constable Reyntjes said the offenders trespassed on the private rural property and cut cables supporting the tower, sending it toppling to the ground. "The people responsible for this are extremely lucky the tower did not crash on top of them and kill them," he said.
"The creation of the proposed wind farm has received a large amount of media attention and opposition." Surf Coast Mayor Dean Webster said he hoped the vandalism was not related to the wind farm debate. "Any community member with concern about the planned wind farm needs to address this through proper channels of council because illegal activity such as destruction of property won't help anyone's cause," he said.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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