Homestead Professional | Read Mail in Inbox

http://mail.windcows.com/jump/http://www.spec.com.au/display.a= sp?id=3D5793

PROJECT THREAT
Units may affect wind=20 farm
26 November2005
Hamilton=20 Spectator

By MADELINE HEALEY

THE future of the $600 million Macarthur Wind = Farm=20 project has been threatened by the construction of two = small=20 farmstay units on a neighbouring property.

The Moyne Shire Council this week approved = construction=20 of the two units on a Gerrigerrup property, owned by = Anne and=20 Andrew Gardner.

Seven of the 10 councillors voted for the units, = with Crs=20 Frank Norton, Ros Stewart and Ken Gale voting = against.

The Gardners applied to council to build the two = farmstay=20 units near the southern boundary of their property, = where it=20 meets the proposed wind farm.

Due to the need to have one kilometre buffer = zones=20 between the wind turbines and residential buildings, = 12 of the=20 183 proposed wind turbines would be impacted by the = farmstay=20 development.

Unviable

The wind farm developers, Southern Hydro, have = objected=20 to the construction of the units, which they said = could make=20 the wind farm unviable.

In an objection on behalf of the developers, Mark = Dwyer=20 of Freehills Solicitors, said the approval of the = units could=20 mean the number of turbines would have to be reduced, = and if=20 this happened the project may not go ahead.

"It may necessitate a reconsideration of the wind = farm=20 layout which could make the wind farm unviable or = unable to=20 proceed," he wrote.

Also objecting was Hamish Officer, whose land = would host=20 wind turbines.

Impact on turbines

Mr Officer wrote in his objection that the = proposal would=20 impact on the number of turbines on his = property.

"If this is the case there will be significant = financial=20 loss to my farm, the wind farm developer and Moyne = Shire," Mr=20 Officer wrote.

He suggested the Gardners should build the units = closer=20 to their house, rather on the boundary of the = property.

Ms Gardner said this wasn't possible as there = were=20 intensive lambing paddocks near the house and there = weren't=20 many other places on the property to choose from, due = to rough=20 and rocky terrain.

She said it was the ideal place to put the units, = as=20 paddocks close to the boundary would no longer be used = for=20 grazing if the wind farm went ahead.

"Our ultrafine sheep won't graze there as they're = sensitive," she said.

Ms Gardner said she couldn't understand how the = two units=20 could impact on the wind farm.

"How can 20 by 20 foot cabins make the wind farm=20 unviable," she said.

Ms Gardner said the approval of the units was a = win for=20 all neighbours of wind farms, who had to fight to use = their=20 own land.

Positive result

"It's a positive result, a step in the right=20 direction.

"It's a bit of justice, we're doing this for = neighbours=20 of all wind farms."

It has been a long wait for the Gardners, as they = applied=20 to council for a planning permit for the units in = April.

Last week Shadow Minister for Planning, Ted = Baillieu,=20 brought up the proposal in Parliament.

He claimed the Moyne Shire had stalled the = approval of=20 the units due to pressure from Southern Hydro.

Ms Gardner said she thought Mr Baillieu's = involvement had=20 helped bring about the planning approval.

"The council were reminded of their job, to = protect the=20 ratepayers," she said.

However Ms Gardner said she expected to still = have a=20 fight on her hands, as the developers were sure to = take the=20 case to VCAT.

"They have 25 days in which applications can be = made=20 against us to VCAT, they can easily take us to VCAT," = she=20 said.