LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Councils left ‘powerless’ on windfarms 

Credit:  Nan Berrett, Northern Argus, www.northernargus.com.au 23 November 2011 ~~

A workshop, followed by a special meeting, will be held by Clare and Gilbert Valleys Councillors next month to prepare their comments about a controversial State Government amendment to the Development Plan.

The amendments relate to wind farm development and have been designed to fast track applications and minimise community objections.

Councils will be obliged to approve any wind farm application providing it is not within two kilometre of a township boundary or one kilometre of an adjacent dwelling.

Only issues of visual impact would be allowed as reasons for rejecting an application, and even then, the State Government can overrule the local council and grant approval.

National parks will also be open for wind farm development.

Although the government has already brought in the changes for an interim period of up to 12 months it is undertaking mandatory consultation with local government.

Councillors discussed the matter at their meeting on Monday night, November 21, after having heard from Central Local Government Region windfarm liaison officer Trevor White.

Mr White outlined the changes in the government’s legislation and the implications for councils and communities. The new policy will see a significant reduction in public consultation, removal of third party appeal rights in many situations and will designate wind farms as essential infrastructure and part of the desired character for the region.

Under the changes only adjoining landholders of proposed wind farm developments will have the right to make representations and will not have any right of appeal.

In an attempt to lessen the visual impact of wind farms, the State government has introduced a requirement for a one kilometre set back between wind farms and dwellings and a two kilometre set back distance between windfarms and the periphery of country towns.

“At the end of the day it is very difficult for councils to refuse them (wind farms) if they fulfil the technical specifications,” Mr White said.

“And although the public has no appeal rights, the developer will have appeal rights.”

If a council were to refuse a wind farm development their only argument would be for visual impact, although this would not prevent them from outlining other concerns in their determination.

Deputy mayor Cr Nedd Golding said he could not understand how the State Government had been able to take a “socialist” approach to wind farm development.

“Down the track the High Court would be fairly interested in this one, and I think people in Australia have the right to object,” Mr Golding said.

“I am not against wind farms in the right place, but if someone in this council area, who pays rates, can’t have a say, then there is something wrong with the system.”

The workshop to discuss the council’s response will be held on Tuesday, December 5 at 7.30pm followed by the special council meeting at 8.30pm.

Source:  Nan Berrett, Northern Argus, www.northernargus.com.au 23 November 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon