The Hunter River Times

Despite acknowledging community concerns, the NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved the $569million Bowmans Creek windfarm.

The project, owned by Korea Zinc and managed by their Australian subsidiary Ark Energy Project Ltd, aims to construct a 347-megawatt wind farm of 56 wind turbines up to 220 metres in height stretching across the Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter local government areas.

The Department of Planning and Environment referred the project for determination to the Commission because more than 50 people objected to the development.

The three member Commission Panel, comprising of Professor Alice Clark (chair), Richard Pearson and Adrian Pilton met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and locality tour, held a public meeting where they heard from 18 speakers and received 47 written submissions from the community.

In its Statement of Reasons, the Commission found that the proposed site is ‘suitable for renewable energy development given its location within the Hunter-Central Coast energy zone, proximity to existing electricity transmission networks, topography, wind resources, access to the regional road network and avoidance of major environmental constraints.’

The Commission imposed conditions they believe will mitigate a number of the issues raised including reducing the number of turbines from 56 to 54 and requiring landscaping to mitigate the visual impact, noise monitoring of the turbines and additional management of traffic and transport impacts on the community.

Speaking on behalf of residents opposed to the project, Nigel Wood said while disappointed at the decision he is not surprised.

“I attended the rally in Canberra and the experience we have had in the Upper Hunter is being duplicated across the country with one horror story after another of the lies and deceit being put forward by those behind renewable projects,” Nigel told The Hunter River Times.

“There are conditions but they are far from adequate.  Noise monitoring must be real time monitoring which is a requirement of other industries,” Nigel said.

“This is not a farm, it is an industry and this project should be treated no differently from any other industry such as coal mining which has real time noise monitoring.  I sincerely don’t believe the project will be able to comply to its noise restrictions as the modelling was done on a turbine 50 per cent smaller than that proposed by the project.

“Visibility is still an issue, the landscape screening presents a fire hazards, it is as simple as that.”

Nigel said residents are now considering their options to appeal the decision in the Land and Environment Court.

Meanwhile Muswellbrook Council Mayor Steve Reynolds has also raised concerns with the conditions of consent, saying they don’t go far enough.

The IPC have requested that dilapidation reports be carried out on both Albano Road and Hebden Road, but road reserve correction work to Albano Road is not included and according to Cr Reynolds, it should be.

“Council holds concerns about the lack of rehabilitation bond required, despite individual agreements being made with landholders, with ARK Energy claiming they will make the bond balance in the first 10 years,” Cr Reynolds said.

This bond is $10million (with a 10-year time frame for the proponent to lodge) but according to Nigel, the real cost is far greater and it is his understanding that the cost, at today’s prices, is closer to $50million.

“What is unique is that the state government is saying that we don’t require a bond upfront, it’s part of the documents, but other state significant developments, ie mines, require a bond upfront for the rehabilitation so whilst the landowners with the wind turbines are the real winners in this situation, we’re still concerned for them.

“Council will have a second opportunity to negotiate with the proponent in relation to our concerns which is the voluntary planning agreement (VPA), and will address a few of the issues that have not been addressed in the IPC document.

“The residents with wind turbines on their properties have already done their individual agreements, and the proponents are saying they have done the individual agreements with landowners, they’re happy.

“But our role as a Council and what we will be pushing for is the broader community impacts, and ensuring that there are right things in place especially with regards to dilapidation of the roads, wildlife corridors, the bushfire preparedness.

“The proponent doesn’t have to agree with our VPA but that agreement is something they need to provide the state government to show that, in good faith, they are addressing our concerns.” Cr Reynolds said.

Muswellbrook Council has also asked for rural fire brigades to be equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment for the kinds of fires they may face around the turbines.

Cr Reynolds explained they will be able to battle the resulting bush or grass fires, but won’t be able to attack the source if it has been sparked by electrical equipment or chemicals.

Nigel is also concerned for other communities in the Hunter Valley who may be sighing with relief that the wind project will not be impacting on their families; however, he is aware the wind industry has been in discussions with property owners from Scone all the way down to Vacy.

“If new projects are proposed the wind industry is now indicating the wind turbine height will be in the vicinity of 300m. These communities need to realise the State and Federal Governments are expediting all renewable energy projects with little or no regard for the impacts on the families they will impact,” Nigel said.