We should not shut down a debate just because it is difficult.

Dealing with amenity issues and noise annoyance issues can be addressed by choosing suitable locations and appropriate compensation. The best community wind farm proposals deal with these issues as matter of course.

Sadly, the council’s decision to take a stance against wind farms denies our community’s right to debate them. 

Such a decision is based on inaccurate statements about the effectiveness of the turbines and their social and environmental impact. Wind power will play an increasingly important role in Australia’s energy mix, as we reduce our carbon footprint in line with the Paris agreement — and beyond. Wind turbines are one of the two cheapest forms of electricity generation (the other is PV), even in the absence of subsidies. Wind turbines have very reliable and highly predictable energy outputs and the energy cost of manufacture is repaid within the first eight months of operation.

Climate change will also continue to present farmers in our region with new challenges and, as other communities have found, wind installations can provide an excellent additional income in lean years.  The council is doing such farmers a grave disservice by adopting a pre-emptive anti-wind position. It is hoped that common sense will prevail and the previous motion will be rescinded at the next meeting, returning our right, ability and obligation to contribute to a sustainable energy future.