More than just wind 

In response to “Need to hear both sides” (Peter Lockyer, TELEGRAPH, October 26).

The Trawool Valley Whiteheads Creek Landscape Guardians was formed and is funded solely by its members, all of whom are local residents.

It is not funded by any fossil fuel industry and our so called “bias” stems out of concern.

The recent public meeting held at the Trawool Valley Resort was organised by the TVWC Landscape Guardians to inform residents of the real negative health impacts, relating to the operation of wind facilities in close proximity to homes, emerging from other communities where wind facilities are already operating in Australia and overseas.

We heard from two gentlemen from Waubra, near Ballarat, who are suffering every day and night from the effects of a wind facility within 10 km of their homes.

It is unfortunate for Mr Lockyer that he didn’t avail himself to attend one of the three information sessions held locally by Infigen Energy, which were widely advertised and only promoted a positive side to wind energy.

We are all residents of the area, the majority of us living within 10 km of the proposed wind facility site. Mr Lockyer, there are in fact three homes within the 2 km zone – the owners of these are hosting the turbines, should the project go ahead. There are a further six homes within 2.1 km of the proposed site and with the allowed micro-siting of the turbines, could be even closer.

I find the comments regarding “noise” and “tinnitus” by Mr Lockyer to be insulting and condescending and showing a complete lack of empathy for those of us who will have to endure any negative health issues that arise should the project get approval.

It is not only the constant audible noise that we are concerned about.

Even more insidious and damaging to health is infrasound.

Infrasound disrupts the normal functioning of the middle and inner ear, leading to nausea, imbalance, impaired equilibrium, immobilisation, and disorientation. It raises blood pressure, increases the heart rate and stimulates the fight or flight response in the body.

Exposure to even mild doses of infrasound can lead to illness.

The larger the turbines, the closer the turbines are to each other, the undulating landscape of Cherry Tree Range and Whiteheads Creek, the steep narrow valley of Trawool and the area’s propensity to low cloud and frost, all serve to increase the amount of infrasound and the distance that it will travel.

This group formed because of our concerns for our families and those of our neighbours, should the proposed wind facility project be allowed to go ahead. Perhaps Mr Lockyer should start his own group and lobby the council for sound barriers if noise from the freeway is affecting his health.

Creating angst is not what we are about. Are we emotive? Yes, we are, but our emotions are based on the constant stream of facts, relating to negative health impacts emerging from other communities and countries, where wind facilities are in operation within 10 km of homes.

Green energy is the way of the future, but it cannot be allowed to negatively impact the health of residents, nor should the financial gain of a few, take precedence over the health and well being of many.

— Ursula James
Whiteheads Creek

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No done deal yet

In a broad band between the towns of Yea and Seymour there are few residents who are in favour of the industrial wind turbine development on the Cherry Tree Range.

A former proponent who had contracted to have one of the massive machines built on his land has pulled out, we presume having realised that the money he would have been paid was not worth the dreadful conflict it was causing his neighbours. We are thankful for that.

Two of the few local supporters of this industrial enterprise have stated that once the proposal goes to VCAT it is a done deal; the project will go ahead.

Where do they get this sweeping assertion from? The fact is that VCAT is a civil court which hears disputed cases on behalf of the government, and this is the government which ran a strong campaign in the seat of Seymour in the 2010 election against the development and installation of wind turbines.

In part this was responsible for dislodging the incumbent, Ben Hardman, and awarding the seat to Cindy McLeish. She appears to be doing a fair job of it.

To assert that this case is a done deal in favour of Infigen, the developer of the scheme, is like saying that in any other court of law there is no point the defendants against a charge bothering to appear, since the prosecution will always win.

What arrant and ignorant nonsense – we live in a democracy, where the little man and his beliefs, his livelihood and his rights are equally important and carry as much weight as does a big, greedy company. That little man must get an equal hearing in VCAT.

The evidence against the value of wind turbines is growing constantly. Governments in the northern hemisphere are realising that they do not deliver the promised benefits, that they are a shocking and ongoing cost to every power consumer (not just the locals), that they cause health problems, that they devalue property, and that their installation must be curtailed, or stopped altogether.

The government of Victoria must be made aware of these facts. And facts they are.

— Lee Stephenson
Seymour