‘A step in the right direction’ are the words Member for Goulburn Pru Goward used to describe the reduced turbine recommendations of the Epuron Yass Valley Wind Farm by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
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The green light was given to the Yass Valley wind farm proposal by the state’s Department of Planning and Environment last week with a scaled down, 79-turbine version of the project.
Ms Goward said that although it wasn’t a perfect outcome, with some people wanting the whole thing ‘killed off’, it was a positive step forward for the Department of Planning.
“When you think of how easily wind farms have been approved in the past, this is a huge step forward and is positive for future proposals,” she said.
“Looking back a couple of years ago the Department was approving every wind farm, today we have got to the point where they are recommending 79 out of 150 turbines. That is a great step forward, it has basically wiped out the whole of the Marilba Hills part, which is great for Binalong as it would have been a huge eyesore.
“I think the additional measures they are requiring are a lot tougher than before.”
Ms Goward commented that the additional height requirements was a positive in reducing the aerial impacts.
“Impacts such as crop dusting, aerial spraying and fire fighting,” she continued.
“We have to be vigilant about that to make sure the company is dinky di and I think it’s better than I had expected.
Having rejected the proposal in early 2015 as Minister for Planning, Ms Goward refused to comment on the current Minister’s decision in accepting the proposal.
Although Ms Goward said the department won’t be revisiting the proposal she suggested that residents consider the possible argument of ‘what’s good for them is good for us’.
“We could question why the Coppabella precinct is different from Marilba,” she continued.
“For me, what this says to me is that the department is finally recognising the impact of landscape of the land.”
“There are places where it is unacceptable destruction of a landscape. I think it augurs very well for future development for our region, because there are many smaller blocks that are there for the lifestyle and landscape.”
Despite her description of the recommendation as positive she is confident that with more pressure a land value study can be undertaken and force the department to consider, more prominently, land value.
“I think the fact they are now recognising land value shows they realise there is an impact on land, where landscape is a problem. Over time, I think we can get a more even approach to these proposals,” she said.