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

Wind mast application withdrawn 

Credit:  Nan Berrett, Stock Journal, sj.farmonline.com.au 20 August 2010 ~~

Wind farm developers have withdrawn their application to erect a wind monitoring mast on the Camel’s Hump Ranges near Clare and said they will not be pursuing any development on the ridgeline.

Wind Prospect applied to the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council earlier this year to erect a 50m tall mast to measure wind, as a precursor to a possible wind farm development.

The proposal attracted strong community opposition and saw the council’s Development Assessment Panel approve the installation, but with a condition that guy wires should be kept a minimum of 20 metres from the historic dry stone wall that runs along the ranges.

Wind Prospect flagged its intention to appeal the decision, but have now decided to withdraw their application altogether.

“During the past few weeks we’ve brought forward our feasibility studies, particularly focussing on the construction footprint of the proposed wind farm; given the heritage values identified on the site and the Council’s potential expectations regarding the protection of such values,” Wind Prospect development manager Stuart Whiting said on Friday.

“Based on these studies it has been decided that we will not be pursuing any further interest in the site.”

Mr Whiting said the deciding factor had been the locally heritage listed dry stone wall.

“Because the ridge is quite narrow, we would be unable to avoid the wall in every location,” he said.

He said the company was actively looking for development projects in the Mid North, but declined to say where in particular.

Clare Ranges Protection Group spokesperson Michele Prince said the group was very pleased to hear, through the Northern Argus on Monday, that the Camels Hump Ranges were unlikely to be developed into a future industrial wind farm.

“We thank all of those involved in our team and who have assisted and supported our cause,” she said.

“The situation hasn’t gone away though, since we were recently notified that the Skilly wind mast decision by the Council’s Development Assessment Panel has just been appealed by DP Energy.

“That means it is very possible that a wind farm development is likely in that area and along that ridge which may effect anyone up to 10km of the ridge.”

The council’s Development Assessment Panel recently refused to grant permission for a wind monitoring mast to be erected on the Skilly Hills, south west of Clare, and proponent DP Energy Australia has lodged an appeal against the decision.

The appeal will be heard at the Environment, Resources and Development Court on September 6.

Ms Prince said if there were people concerned, or who had any questions about this topic, they should start their own independent research into the effects and impacts of wind farms and what residents had experienced in the past.

“The Clare Ranges Protection Group is happy to assist those residents and businesses who may be concerned about this development – if required.

“There is now a large support group in the Mid North who have much information about this topic, and this acts as a good network for residents who want to know more,” Ms Prince said.

Concerned residents in the Laura and Robertstown districts have met recently to speak about the issues of concern regarding the environmental, social and health impacts of wind farm developments.

Source:  Nan Berrett, Stock Journal, sj.farmonline.com.au 20 August 2010

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