Positive impact at Ararat

Cooma Monaro Express
29/08/2006 Page: 5

BILL Braithwaite, CEO of the Ararat Rural City Council, told the forum that wind farms have had a massive positive impact on his shire and invited everyone at the forum to Ararat to see the changes for themselves.

"We have 35 turbines in Ararat and we have not had one single written complaint from anybody since they were erected." Mr Braithwaite said while addressing everyone at the forum.

"Our community was willing to accept growth and change. Pacific Hydro (the windfarm developer in Ararat) are excellent corporate citizens and every year provide the community with $50 000 worth of community grants."

Mr Braithwaite believes the argument used by antiwindfarm groups that windfarms devalue property is a myth.

"It was reported that real estate in Ararat has gone up 27.2 per cent in two years," Mr Braithwaite said while showing everyone the story on the front page of the Ararat Advertiser."