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Liberals to ban wind farms within 2km of homes
Credit: Political Reporter Daniel Wills, The Advertiser, www.adelaidenow.com.au 6 January 2012 ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond has vowed to ban wind farms within 2km of any home.
In her second policy announcement since declaring the end of her small-target strategy, Ms Redmond said she would move to “protect” residents from the possible economic, social and health impacts of wind turbines if the Liberals won the 2014 election.
This comes just more than two months after Planning Minister John Rau released a scheme to reform the wind power industry, including allowing turbines 1km from homes, and follows Ms Redmond’s commitment this week to find savings in public sector wages.
Ms Redmond yesterday labelled wind “probably the least efficient and most unreliable of all the green energy sources”. She said she would not be fazed if the policy caused a drop in turbine investment.
Key elements of Liberal policy, also include:
BANNING construction of wind turbines within 5km of townships, compared with 2km proposed by the Government.
ALLOWING third-party appeals to development so neighbours and residents can challenge construction.
DRAFTING a statewide wind-farm zoning plan, including declaring some areas off limits.
WORKING with interstate governments on national standards for noise.
ENFORCING guidelines for firefighting around turbines, which generate heat and often are in farm or grassland.
GIVING landowners protection from developments that cause economic losses by preventing or limiting aerial spraying.
Former premier Mike Rann said last October that $1.8 billion in sector investment was on hold pending reform of state wind-power generation rules.
Changes proposed by the Government, including allowing turbines within 1km of homes and banning third-party appeals, have caused controversy.
Ms Redmond said increasing minimum distances between turbines and homes would stop “a plethora of wind farms just erupting everywhere”.
“At the moment, the wind turbine people have just been able to go out and plop these things willy-nilly with no accountability,” she said.
Government figures show wind energy contributes 21 per cent of power generated in the state.
The Clean Energy Council estimates $2.8 billion has been invested in the sector.
A protest on government policy is planned for Parliament House on January 17.
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