Former mayor Nic Carmody has likened each wind turbine proposed for the Rye Park area to a “50 storey building”.
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Mr Carmody’s comments coincide with the NSW Department of Planning’s decision to open up public submissions on its wind farm proposal for the region.
Those plans include 109 turbines, each 157 metres in height, capable of producing 327 megawatts of power if all are fully operational.
The submission period, which opened on Wednesday and will close on June 23, nudges the wind farm plans closer to realisation.
Developer, New Zealand outfit Trustpower, has faced staunch opposition from Rye Park locals since taking over the project from renewable energy giant, Epuron.
Those opponents, it seems, are running out of time.
Trustpower will take on board feedback from mailed submissions and public workshops before refining their plans and submitting them to the state government for approval.
The next month is critical for opponents of the wind farm – the most vocal of whom reside in the Rye Park area – Mr Carmody says.
“There are a couple of critical things the community should be aware of, in particular that it’s on submission now,” explained the former mayor, now the independent chairman of the Rye Park Wind Farm Community Consultation group.
“People should take that opportunity, have their say and make sure that they get it in on time.”
In addition to opening up the plans for public submission, the NSW Department of Planning will conduct a community forum in the Rye Park Memorial Hall on June 8.
Mr Carmody expects it to be calmer than the last public gathering on the matter, which ended with allegations of abusive behaviour from both the developer, Trustpower, and opponents to the project.
“It’s pleasing that the Department is scheduling a meeting at Rye Park in June. Anyone who wants to know more about this should get out there,” he continued.
“There’s always a chance an application won’t be approved, given they’ve been dealing with many issues over many years.”
Mr Carmody, the mayor of the Yass Valley from 1999 to 2012, has spent much of his public life dealing with the complexities of wind farm proposals.
He can see both the pros and cons to the industry.
“They’re in the vicinity of 150 metres - they’re absolutely massive,” he said.
“You’re talking about a structure like a 50 storey building. Anyone who lives out there will certainly know they’re there. If you had one on your property, you’d want it a decent way from your house.
“But at the same time, it’s the way of the future. If you look at Upper Lachlan, there are heaps of them. Given the rest of the world is going that way too, it’s inevitable.”
Mr Carmody pointed to the recent of approval of the Yass Valley Wind Farm, which was scaled down from 150 to 79 turbines after public consultation, as proof that community opposition can influence developer’s plans.
The Rye Park Wind Farm proposal will remain open for public inspection at Yass Valley Council headquarters until June 23. Submissions can be made online at the Department of Planning’s website, planning.nsw.gov.au.
