General News
1 February, 2023
Moyne objects wind farm
MOYNE Shire councillors unanimously supported formally objecting to the planning permit application for Woolnorth Renewables’ Mt Fyans Wind Farm.
MOYNE Shire councillors unanimously supported formally objecting to the planning permit application for Woolnorth Renewables’ Mt Fyans Wind Farm.
Councillors stood in support of the community at this week’s ordinary meeting of council after receiving 90 community submissions, 89 per cent of which supported council’s objection.
Mayor Karen Foster will write to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to object to the wind farm’s planning permit application and request to be heard at a panel convened by the minister.
The officer’s report before councillors outlined extensive concerns found with the project encompassing the development and layout, traffic impact, visual and landscape impacts, cumulative impacts of further wind farm developments, infrastructure, flawed noise impact assessment and a below-average community benefits program.
The objection was bolstered by the 90 community submissions which raised more than 80 specific concerns surrounding the proposed development.
Key issues raised by members of the community concerned amenity impacts, environmental impacts and noise and health concerns.
Approximately 10 of the community submissions were in support of the wind farm, with an emphasis on increased employment, financial and economic benefits and the importance of addressing climate change.
In addition to the objection, Moyne Shire will also include 608 letters addressed to the Mt Fyans Wind Farm which council received between August 2018 and October 2020, all of which object to the proposed wind farm.
While the letters will not be considered in addition to the 90 submissions from the existing consultation process, the shire will include them as they “... illustrate concern expressed by the community...”
A number of residents spoke during a public participation phase of the meeting, making an impassioned plea for council to stand against the proposed development.
Nick Allen, who was absent but prepared a statement read by chief executive officer Brett Davis, said he feared the shire would be at threat of fires and losing residents.“The wind farm companies promise a lot, but deliver much less,” he said.
"What concerns me most is the more wind farms that are built in the Moyne Shire, the more local residents you will lose."
“The power lines add risk to the turbine catching fire; as a lieutenant in the CFA, if a fire starts in a turbine we will be a long way back as we can’t fight that.”
Mortlake’s Adrienne Cameron said she and her husband Colin objected to the proposed wind farm due to the landscape impacting their idyllic home.
“I find the name misleading as Mt Fyans is 27 kilometres away,” she said.
“We purchased a property on Prentices Lane which is quite elevated. We bought it because of its position and clear, unobstructed views of the Grampians and the surrounds, and the peace and quiet.
“We estimate at least 30 turbines will be directly in our view along with the transmission lines which are also to be erected.”
"We’re not happy that we may leave because these turbines are unacceptable to us."
Anne Blacker said she held fears her PrenticesLane property would be devalued with up to 50 turbines visible from her home.
“I’m 79 years old, I have lived in Moyne Shire for 78 of those years, and I firmly believe this proposal by Woolnorth is the most detrimental in the Mortlake area to be considered,” she said.
Nina Thomas said Mt Fyans Wind Farm was already having “a horrible impact on the community, pitting neighbours against neighbours, destroying friendships and the very essence of what makes a rural community strong”.
“Our district can’t sustain this, nor can it sustain the cumulative impacts if it were to proceed,” she said.
Among the public speakers was Woolnorth Renewables head of development Giles Rinckes.
He said he believed objections had been reasonably addressed and the project had the overall support of shire residents.
"Council’s own survey last year showed 80 per cent of residents either in favour or strongly in favour of wind farms."
“For the construction of more wind farms, support was also favourable, with 54 per cent of your residents either in support or neutral towards more wind farms,” Mr Rinckes said.
Councillors disagreed the project had the support of the community, with Cr Doukas saying he hopes the minister would “see common sense”.
“This recommendation to object is supporting the community,” he said.
Cr Jordan Lockett said he was “one of the greenest persons in the room” who supported the switch to renewables and wind farms, but that continued development in the Mortlake area had worn out its welcome.
"The social licence has expired."
“Mortlake is pretty much surrounded by current wind farms and proposed wind farms.
“There’s not enough benefit to the community,” he said.