www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
29 Aug 2011
Hundreds of new regional jobs and multi-billion dollar investment in regional Victoria are the real casualties of the Victorian Government's 2km wind setback policy posted online over the weekend. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said approximately $3 billion in investment would be lost to Victoria as a result of its new planning policy.
"Carving out large areas of the state as 'no-go zones' sends a clear message that Victoria is closed for business when it comes to future wind power," Mr Warren said. "More than half of future wind farms proposed in Victoria will not be built as a direct result of this policy.
"The Victorian Government is sending jobs and investment interstate and will effectively drive up electricity prices in Victoria. Individual landholders can effectively hold developers to ransom under this policy by refusing to sign up to an agreement."
Mr Warren said all developers of major infrastructure in Victoria should be nervous today. "If the Victorian Government is prepared to impose mandatory setbacks on technology as quiet, safe and clean as wind turbines without consultation, then what will they do to more imposing infrastructure – like roads, fossil fuel power stations, factories or mining projects?" he said.
In addition to the 2km setback policy, the government has also prohibited wind power investment in large areas of the state, such as the Macedon and Yarra Ranges. Mr Warren said the setback policy was not based on science and were "completely arbitrary". "The government has effectively introduced major changes to the planning system overnight with no industry consultation and many areas of great uncertainty still exist in relation to the implementation of this policy," he said.
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