Tuesday 6 September 2011
VOL 9. No 36
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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Pictured from left: Nicole Wearne, Sally Ranfall, Anna Kneebone, Nicky Buckley and Torquay College models at Friday night’s fashion parade.
WIND CHANGE Planning minister empowers residents to decide where wind turbines can go
BY HAMISH BROOKS A STATE Government planning amendment has blown holes in renewable energy plans for the Surf Coast. Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced amendments to planning provisions for the establishment of wind farms in Victoria that prohibit a wind turbine being constructed within two kilometres of an existing dwelling unless there is written consent from the owner of the dwelling. Mr Guy said wind farms would also not be permitted within five kilometres of regional growth areas.
Su rf Forecast
A 14-turbine wind farm at Mt Pollock is the only current project that might be affected by the amendment in the Surf Coast Shire, but organisations looking for sites for community wind farms will also be affected. Surf Coast Shire Mayor Dean Webster said the new laws added another layer of protection to the iconic Great Ocean Road but put any future plans for wind farms around the shire into limbo. “Council has yet to determine the full extent of the new Victorian laws, including how they may impact on the concept of a community wind farm and other renewable energy initiatives currently going through the planning process,” he said.
“Most of our coastal areas along the Great Ocean Road are unsuited to wind farm development. “The Planning Minister’s proposal appears to further restrict the amount of land available in the Surf Coast for potential wind farm development. “This may not be such good news for areas away from the coast suited to wind farm development.” Surf Coast Energy Group president Caroline Hawkins said the decision was “very disappointing”, but she could understand why the Government made it, as historically when new technologies arrive there are always people who are resistant to change. “I think because it gets linked to the climate change debate it becomes even more polarised and
people resist it even harder,” she said. “I quite like the look of them but I think because people don’t immediately see the benefit of a move to renewable sources like wind, they oppose them.” Mr Guy said the two kilometre limit was suggested in research by New Zealand and British governments. “We looked at a body of research that found that the noise and visual impacts were noticeably reduced when turbines were two kilometres from people’s houses,” he said. “More importantly, we felt it was an appropriate buffer; it doesn’t mean you can’t build within it, just that you need a resident’s consent.”
WED 2-5ft+ Easing WSW 15º THU 2-4ft Easing WNW 18º FRI 3-4ft+ Building WSW 14º SAT 3-5ft Easing SW 15º
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