Major Australasian power provider Origin Energy has purchased two proposed wind farm precincts in the Yass Valley area.
The takeover of the planned Coppabella Hills and Marilba Hills wind farm precincts from energy provider Epuron indicates Origin is confident of receiving State Government consent for the $1 billion plus project.
If passed, the Coppabella Hills precinct, located 10km southwest of Binalong, may be home to up to 82 turbines on 15 properties.
The Marilba Hills precinct, situated 6km southwest of Bowning, may host as many as 70 turbine towers and involve ten landowners.
Together the two could produce enough energy to power 150,000 homes annually.
The building of turbines may still be six to ten years away despite obvious interest in the region as a clean energy provider. First the project requires the State Government to pass a yet-to-be-finalised development application.
The scheme's go-ahead rests solely with the NSW Department of Planning, an issue that has irked landowners and council; those left with the responsibility of housing the turbines.
"We're here to represent the community... It's a little disappointing in some respects we don't have any direct involvement with the State Government on this matter," Yass Valley Council Director of Planning and Environmental Services, Paul De Szell, said.
"The good thing for us is we're now dealing with one entity that has control of the entire project. It makes it easier for council to deal with landholders and those responsible for the planning of the proposal," he said.
Paul Regan manages a family property near Binalong. He and other landholders have been lobbying the State Government to consider placing restrictions on wind turbine towers.
"We know we're not in a position to stop it, it's out of our hands," he said. "But we're fighting to have some sort of restrictions placed on the turbine towers. They're visible from 90 per cent of my family's property.
"Another major concern, while it hasn't been proven, is how it might affect land values. To be honest, if we did own hills they wanted to put turbines on, I would decline because despite the short term financial gain, the long term effects are too great," he said.
Mr Regan feared in 25 years time, local farmers would be responsible for pulling down the turbines once they cease to serve any purpose.
An Origin Energy spokesperson was adamant legal agreements would be drawn up ensuring the company responsible for erecting the towers would be forced to ensure they were properly disposed of in the future.
David Burraston and Sarah Last reside on a property near Muttama, southeast of Cootamundra. If approved, the Coppabella Hills wind farm will sit in the 50km corridor between their home and Binalong.
In October last year, the couple submitted a document to the New South Wales Government outlining their strong objections to the project.
"It's a totally unnecessarily development. These turbines are apparently put up to cut down on greenhouse gasses, but they have to be backed up by gas-powered stations," Dr Burraston said.
He described the consultation between the energy investors and affected landholders as "appalling".
"The only consultation we've been given was notice that we had 30 days to go over a lengthy document [the environmental assessment], research and write a sensible reply. And 14 of the 30 days had already passed. I'd describe responding to that as bloody impossible," a frustrated Dr Burraston said.
Judy Pinder was a candidate at the 2008 Yass Valley Council election and stood under the Greens Party banner. She believes harnessing the energy created by wind is a positive step.
“At some stage, sooner or later, we’re going to have to bite the bullet and look at ways of becoming more sustainable,” she said. “People object to the idea of having wind turbines next to their property, but they’ve never had to live next to a coal-fired power station. Living next to one of those has far worse implications.”
Ms Pinder would welcome more use of solar created energy.
As well as the Coppabella and Marilba Hills precincts, Origin Energy has ownership of the already approved 15 turbine wind farm at Conroy's Gap, halfway between Bowning and Bookham.
The three precincts cover an area of approximately 7400 hectares [18,300 acres]. Of that, approximately 29 hectares [72 acres] of vegetation and plant-life would need to be cleared, according to an environmental assessment published by firm nghenvironemnt last year.
Origin Energy has indicated it plans to hold information days on the Yass Valley Wind Farm Proposal in the near future.
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