Libs' wind-farm policy will `destroy jobs - Baillieu caving in to nimby protests

Age
Friday 14/5/2010 Page: 3

THE state opposition is facing a barrage of criticism over a new wind-farm policy that industry and councils say will shut down a vital part of the Victorian renewable energy sector. Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu announced yesterday that under a Coalition government local councils would be given full control over the wind farm approval process. Currently decisions about big wind farms are made by the state government.

The Coalition policy also includes:

• A ban on wind farms in state and national parks, tourist areas and growth corridors, including Wilsons Promontory, the Dandenong Ranges and the Great Ocean Rd.
• Compensation for landowners whose properties are within one kilometre of existing wind farms.
• No new wind turbines to be built within two kilometres of homes.

Mr Baillieu rejected suggestions his policy would kill the industry. "We're supportive of renewable energy. We're not seeking to prevent applications, we're seeking to ensure that those who have interests have a say," he said. But the Municipal Association of Victoria said councils did not always want to control wind-farm planning decisions. President Bill McArthur said councils often lacked the expertise to make informed decisions.

Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Coalition policy was "bizarre". "In one fell swoop Mr Baillieu will destroy jobs, destroy industry and help destroy the environment in this state." A statewide campaign against wind farms is being waged by a network of groups calling themselves Landscape Guardians. The guardians oppose wind farms on visual amenity grounds and claim they cause health problems.

The opposition consulted the Victorian Landscape Guardians but not the renewable energy industry in drafting its policy. Victorian Landscape Guardians president Randall Bell said the opposition announcement was "an escape from the arrogant and dictatorial attitude of the Brumby and Brack governments in relation to this issue". Renewable energy businesses said Mr Baillieu's policy would drive multimillion-dollar investments and thousands of jobs from regional Victoria.

Steve Garner, general manager of wind turbine manufacturer Keppel Prince Engineering in Portland, said he would "seriously consider" moving his 450-employee plant interstate if Mr Baillieu won the November election. "Here we are, trying to be the renewable energy hub of Victoria and this bloke makes it harder and harder and harder," Mr Garner said.

Brett Thomas, chief executive of Acciona Energy, which operates the Waubra Wind Farm near Ballarat, said the coalition policy had "come out of the blue". "We're a bit shocked and dismayed by it," he said. Ken McAlpine, policy director with wind power company Vestas, said Mr Baillieu was caving in to "nimby protesters". Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said Mr Baillieu's standards would make it harder to put up a wind turbine in Victoria than to dig a coal mine.