Backing for wind turbines

Hobart Mercury
Friday 8/1/2010 Page: 11

THE first wind turbine application for the City of Clarence which is for a doctors' medical centre being built at Lindisfarne, has been recommended for approval by planners - despite some opposition from businesses and residents. The development application for five vertical wind turbines on towers ranging in total height from 14.5 m to 15.5m will be considered by aldermen at Clarence City Council's meeting on Monday.

The proposal has generated strong debate in the community and received 20 public representations and also a petition bearing 194 signatures. Two other wind turbine applications in the City of Hobart were recently approved at appeal before the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal - for the Marine Board Building and the ANZ Centre. In Clarence, the wind turbines, combined with solar energy panels, are planned to meet the energy requirements of the medical centre. The proposed turbines would be cylindrical. 5.2m high, and be mounted on supporting poles.

Council officers reported the noise level would be barely discernible and well below background levels. However, to ensure this, they are proposing a condition that noise levels from the turbines must not exceed five decibels above background noise. They said the turbines differed significantly from standard horizontal blade turbines. They resembled a hollow, five-bladed cylinder - as opposed to an oversized propeller.

Objections included one saying the project would leave Lindisfarne with five large imposing "utterly useless" structures. Another said the wind turbines would be a blot on the landscape. However, staff responded by saying a 15m high building would be allowed in the commercial zone and would have significantly greater impact upon amenity. One other complainant said turbines were not proven in a suburban area. That objector said it was not for the council to determine whether wind turbines would work in such a setting.