By STEVE GRAY
THE Southern Downs Regional Council’s decision to refuse approval for a wind farm at Dalveen will be appealed in the Planning and Environment Court.
Proponent for the Rabbit Ridge wind farm, Tim Lucas, said his plan for eight wind turbines could replace the need for Ergon’s planned 110KV powerline from Warwick to Stanthorpe.
“The state and local government and Ergon should not squander this unique opportunity to save money, and to see clean renewable energy offset the need to impose a 70km power transmission line on scores of unwilling landowners,” Mr Lucas said.
He was referring to the results of a Community Reference Group report which recommended a corridor for the proposed Ergon power line which is required for Stanthorpe’s future energy needs.
“It’s not only the scores of people under the powerline that could be adversely affected,” Mr Lucas said.
“Under the current town plan Ergon could install diesel generators at any of its sites to deliver the same back-up power, including Pozieres or Stanthorpe, as an alternative to the power line.
“I think the local opponents of the Rabbit Ridge wind farm should take the opportunity to re-examine the benefits of the project and at the same time avoid costly legal proceedings by negotiating a compromise, rather than risk the appeal getting up and the court ratifying the council’s own planning report in its entirety.”
At its October meeting the councillors voted against the wind farm proposal, despite Mr Lucas’ development application being recommended for approval by council officers.
Councillors were concerned at the 150 metre high towers; their impact on public amenity; health aspects; noise and their effect on bees.
Mr Lucas said there are a few people who think they’d be affected by the wind farm.
“They’re not going to be, it’s been proven that they’re not going to be,” he said.
“The reality is there are definitely scores of people who would be affected by the power line or by diesel generation in their towns.”
Mr Lucas said Ergon have instituted a regulatory test to look at alternatives to the power line.
“If you look at the regulatory test, it’s almost written for my proposal. It just falls squarely within what they need as an alternative to the power line,” he said.
Spokesman for Ergon, Rod Rehbein said the power line will be needed regardless of the success of the wind farm proposal.
“From our perspective it would not take away the need for that power line,” Mr Rehbein said.
He said the regulatory test is a standard requirement for any project costing more than $10 million.
Clarification:
*IN an earlier report (Southern Free Times 7 November) we said “Council reports said the (wind farm) proposal does not comply with the strategic provisions outlined in the current planning scheme for the region”. This should have read “Council said the proposal does not comply with the strategic provisions outlined in the current planning scheme for the region”.
