Two sides to the wind farm debate

Oberon Review
Thursday 19/4/2007 Page: 3

While there has been plenty of opposition to the proposed wind turbines slated to be erected around the village of Black Springs, those who are in favour of the alternative energy source have jumped to the defence of the idea. The main source of concern for those against the development has been decreasing land values, noise, aesthetic drawbacks, as well as the likelihood of the power created being diverted to the Melbourne electricity grid.

Jonathan Slottje however sees the proposal as a positive for the area and disagrees with the anti-wind farm standpoint. "I think it (the wind farm) is a good thing because renewable energy is something that we desperately need," said Mr Slottje, a Black Springs-based businessman. "It is also a good passive income for farmers to be earning during what has been a terrible drought," he said.

"Renewable energy is a massive industry in the United States, especially in California, sadly we have people moving over there and taking renewable energy technology with them because they are not able to use it a lot of the time in Australia," he added in reference to solar power, which is struggling in Australia due to lack of sponsorship and funding.

Mr Slottje and his family have been in Black Springs for several years operating a manufacturing business, and despite all the talk during that time regarding the drawbacks of the wind turbines, he says he has not seen any evidence of land devaluation in that time despite the pending establishment of the structures.

"As far as property values go, I know one farmer who is selling his property - not because of the wind farm - and he has managed to have his property listed for a substantial amount with no effects at all from the turbines," he said. "I don't think aesthetically they look ugly. I'm also in favour of something that may create a number of jobs in Black Springs," he said.

Mr Slottje added that although Blayney has been cited by several people as one community that has been adversely affected by the turbines, during a recent visit to the town he observed that they had used their wind farm as a positive aspect and incorporated it into their town identity and tourism campaigns. - "In terms of noise also, we have trail bikes in the village all the time and they make a ridiculous amount of noise. The turbines will be out of the village so I can't see how it would be any worse than the bikes," he said.

Mark and Michelle Culley, who also live in the village, have both come out in favour of the wind farm due to the alternatives it offers to the usual sources of power. "I'm definitely in favour of renewable energy. We just can't keep tearing coal out of the ground, it's as simple as that," Mark Culley said. "I don't personally think they are the best looking things, but alternative sources of energy are very important," he said.

Michelle Culley was similarly positive about the proposal. "One of the positives will be that even though it is just our little eight or nine turbines here, if people stop arguing and other places got involved with renewable energy, it would ease the burden on water and coal usage," she said. "I'd rather not see a nuclear power plant in the area, and I would be interested to see what the opponents of the wind farm would say if they were told a nuclear plant was to be built," she said.

"As far as noise goes, trucks rumble past at 4 in the morning, and our bedroom rattles, and that happens a hundred times a day, so I can't see how the turbines would be worse." Mrs Culley added that she is concerned about the possible repercussions for some of the landholders who will be having the structures built on their property if the proposal is to be approved.

"People also have to remember that it is still just a proposal - nothing has been decided yet, and it is still being looked at to see if it is viable," Michelle said. "The bottom line for me is, I really have no problem with the idea. There will probably be a little bit of noise, but we have to make these sacrifices for the things we want, and I don't think a little bit of noise should matter." The debate about the development looks set to continue for some time to come.