Wind farm changes landscape

ROB Liley is concerned about how his beloved Walkerville will look once the Bald Hills Wind Farm has been built.
While he does not enjoy looking at wind turbines standing up to 135m high across the landscape, Mr Liley believes he will get used to the sight.
But he does not want the wind farm owner – Japanese company Mitsui – to change the region anymore than it should.
“We have been living in a beautiful area and I do not think Mitsui should leave us in a mess,” the beef farmer said.
“We have to go with renewable energy but if they are going to do it, do it properly. Do not leave a mess behind in the shire of South Gippsland.”
Vegetation loss and deteriorating roads top his concerns. He is unhappy Mitsui has been allowed to fence off existing bushland to offset bush that will be lopped to make way for powerlines.
“God has already put those trees there. Mitsui has not put them there,” Mr Liley said.
“If I chopped down a heap of cherry blossom trees in Japan, it would diabolical.”
Bryan Sword, South Gippsland Shire Council’s manager of planning and environmental health, said council had approved a permit for Bald Hills Wind Farm to remove native and non-native vegetation to install 27km of powerline required to connect the wind farm to the main grid at Leongatha South.
“Vegetation is only permitted to be removed at each site a pole is installed. Broad clearing within the road reserve will not occur,” he said.
“Where practicable, areas which have been previously cleared or existing powerline easements will be used.
“Along the 27km line, it was assessed that 2.26 habitat hectares would be removed. The planning permit requires that a 4.58 hectare offset be provided in perpetuity which is consistent with Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management Plan Framework. The offset will be provided on private land in Tarwin Lower.”
Mr Sword said since the permit was issued, the amount of vegetation required to be removed had been further reduced.
Mr Liley said local roads were not the same as they were six months ago before construction started.
“It’s an obstacle course now. You are dodging potholes and dodging trucks,” he said.
Mr Liley said up to 13 gravel trucks a day have been passing his property on the Fish Creek-Walkerville Road, delivering gravel to the wind farm.
Like many surrounding residents, Mr Liley believes the wind farm should be paying higher council rates than the $130,000 it is expected to.

Up, up: turbines are being erected quickly at the Bald Hills Wind Farm.

Short URL: /?p=11611

Posted by Sarah Vella on Jul 23 2014. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry