Wind farms

WIND FARMS
Page: 18478

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands—Speaker) [5.54 p.m.]: The New England area, which includes my large Northern Tablelands electorate, has been declared one of five key areas targeted as renewable energy precincts for wind farms. This means developments in these areas would be fast tracked. Earlier this year when the Premier visited our area—it was a very welcome visit—he gave an assurance to our concerned communities that wind farm developments would comply with local community standards. However, as proposals for these developments proliferate, there is still a lot of local disquiet that the views of those most directly affected will not be properly considered.

As the local member I have many times shared the scepticism of members of my community about what the Government classifies as an effective consultation process. Often, and on many important matters, I have had to intervene, at the request of the community, to have processes revisited or started again from scratch. I hope that with wind farm developments the Government, which has become the consent authority, will carefully consider community views, particularly those of the local councils that represent them. Both the Glen Innes Severn and Inverell councils in my electorate have compiled development control plans for wind power generation. These plans propose sensible guidelines that reflect community and council views.

The councils themselves are in an invidious position. While they are not the consent authority in relation to wind farm developments, they are the regulatory authority. That means they have to deal with the complaints and complications that arise from decisions they do not make. It is important that government planners work closely with councils and take into consideration their concerns otherwise we will have a dysfunctional system instead of positive initiatives to build up sustainable energy options. The Glen Innes Severn and Inverell councils' development control plans call for a minimum and mandatory two-kilometre setback of wind turbines from rural residential homes.

The turbines planned for the Northern Tablelands developments are 130-metres tall and, the community claims, generate considerable noise. The two-kilometre set back is a reasonable proposition and its acceptance as a guideline would achieve a lot in smoothing the path for future wind farm developments in New South Wales. It is important to do that because we want to see more of these developments. That is why getting the balance right is so important. It would be wrong for the Government or its planners to assume that country people and councils affected by these developments have some wholesale objection to sustainable energy solutions. The opposite is true: they support these initiatives, as I do, but expect a reasonable approach from the Government and developers. Many country people have been using solar power, windmills and geothermal heating and cooling for a long period.

A petition from Northern Tablelands residents objecting to some aspects of the proposed wind farm development for Glen Innes, delivered to this Parliament by me, states their grounds. They are concerned about the proximity of turbines to houses, visual and noise pollution, electromagnetic interference with television and mobile phone reception, health effects, reduced property values and damage to the environment. I believe the majority of householders in this State affected by similar proposed developments would share those concerns.

Currently General Purpose Standing Committee No. 5 is conducting three public hearings on wind farm developments across the State. Representatives from local councils and community groups appeared at the Tamworth hearing to put forward their views. I am told it was a very constructive process. One resident from the Furracabad Valley, near Glen Innes, told the hearing that one of the 130-metre turbines would be located only 900 metres from her house if the current plans for the Glen Innes project went ahead. It is in the interests of the State and its people that the Government takes time to get it right on wind farm developments. Ideally, all developments would be put on hold until the standing committee presents its report, which I understand will be very soon. This would ensure that community views are taken into consideration and that local council guidelines inform any government decision-making on these developments in the future.

While it is vital that sustainable energy options be pursued, it is generally agreed that the amount of power that can be generated by wind is still relatively minor compared with other options. It would be a mistake, in my opinion—and many in the community share this view—for the Government to rush through these developments without considering the impact on local communities. I urge the Government and the Minister to take the time to carry out detailed community consultation and a proper analysis of the standing committee's report before approving these developments. This would allow fair and sensible guidelines to be put in place and the opportunity to support future wind farm developments, particularly if the balance is right.