We read the front page article 'Funds blowing in the wind farm' about Trustpower saying that they will pay a Neighbour Benefit Agreement as the only reason neighbours object to this project is because that they are not making financial gain from it.  People who make this claim are trying to salve their own conscience for accepting money for 'hosting' these things. The concern for the opponents is not money, it is living with risk.

The risk of building oil-filled, 250m tall industrial turbines on treed ridges in a high fire danger area when we are already constantly watching the horizons for smoke in summer. Just try Google for wind turbine fires.

The risk to our environment and protected fauna and flora when the proponents cannot even get their rock type correct in their environmental statement. The ridges on which they want to build are shale and highly erodible leading to sediment dumps in the streams. The extent of the erosion at the Lake George site proves the risk.

The risk of accidents by having to drive along narrow and already potholed country roads with at least 296 construction vehicles every day. This is a conservation estimate from the wind company. Some of these vehicles will carry up to 200 tonnes in a load. Anyone travelling the roads around the Crookwell wind turbine development would have seen the dangers caused.

The risk that the medical problems that have been denied by 'experts' are real because recent studies funded by a turbine company shows that they may exist and the NHMRC recommended further study because current research is mainly poor quality.

The risk that if we get sick and cannot live in our home anymore that our property will be worth much less, if we can sell it at all. When some who are benefiting from hosting wind turbines are heard to say that they are glad your prices will drop so that they can buy your property cheap.

The risk that the support and relationships with our neighbours and community so necessary for survival in the country will be irrevocably broken, especially by 'hosts' who don't even live here.

The risk that the worries about all these things will compound the pressures and difficulties of living in rural Australia that makes a farmer twice as likely to take their own lives.

All this for a source of power that is unreliable and there are many less invasive and divisive sources of renewable energy to invest in.               

David and Elaine Sainsbury