Concerns are growing about the expansion of wind farming at Lal Lal.
More than 160 residents learned of new developments at the Lal Lal wind farm at a recent public meeting. The residents expressed concerns about noise pollution, visual impacts and the size and regulation of turbines.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy amended wind farm permit conditions in July to allow companies to upgrade turbine technology and make minor modifications to increase turbine capacity or blade length.
Lal Lal Environment Association president John McMahon said residents were concerned wind companies would now build turbines as big as they pleased.
“It’s only going to get worse, the more they build and the bigger they build them,” Mr McMahon said.
“If the wind company decided that a 50 per cent increase in size would optimise their profitability, the blade sweep area would increase to the size of the MCG playing field.
“I don’t think people realise how big these are and how much effect they will have.”
Mr McMahon said residents were also worried that there was no independent body to police noise levels.
“The green side of politics says it’s a regulated industry; what we’re saying is, that’s a load of rubbish,” he said.
“Country people are the bunnies, they are the collateral damage for people in the cities who think, what’s the problem with that?,” he said.
Mr McMahon said wind turbines had the “potential to devastate the shire”, including negatively impacting property values.
“For Moorabool, it’s a huge issue because there are currently 66 turbines … and there are permits in place for another 64 at Lal Lal.”
The government’s permit amendments allow companies to increase the size but not capacity of turbines.
Australian Wind Alliance national co-ordinator Andrew Bray said there were hundreds of people who lived near wind farms without any problems.
“It’s important to note that the developer is now able to alter their permit to use more modern technology. That may increase the size of the turbines, but they actually have to comply with stricter noise standards than they did before,” Mr Bray said.
“So the amount of noise will be reduced if they use bigger turbines
Mr Bray said turbines would be checked after construction to ensure noise levels were within guidelines.
He said there were many economic benefits across Victoria, and Moorabool, from wind farms, including providing employment and ongoing income for infrastructure and other community projects and initiatives.
