Strathbogie residents rally on wind farm proposal

About 70 residents of the Strathbogie Ranges gathered for a public meeting at the Ruffy Hall on May 6 to discuss concerns about the proposed 600 megawatt wind farm.

The Fera company has proposed to build the turbines, more than 200m high on land between Ruffy, Avenel and Seymour.

Strathbogies Responsible Renewables Community Group member Andrew Holloway said the region was simply not an appropriate place for a renewable energy facility.

He said the region was home to a range of endangered species of animals, birds and fish.

He said it would be a contradiction if the renewable energy facility was to compromise environmental values in the construction and operation.

“The community is concerned that this facility would risk degrading the region,” Mr Holloway said.

He said hundreds of kilometres of roads and track would be required to facilitate the construction, damaging forests and roadside vegetation.

The group is concerned that setback requirements have recently been reduced to 1km from established homes. Once erected, future development would be restricted within these setback zones.

The group also sees a potential increased fire risk from new ignition sources, including power lines and restrictions on firefighting by aerial bombing due to the turbines.

The opponents also point to the fact that the proposed location is not in a Victorian Government renewable energy zone.

Any wind farm in the proposed area would have to include the construction of a transmission line at least 15km long to reach the grid.

Mr Holloway said the community was also concerned at a lack of transparency and information from the company.

Fera said the project would create between 50 and 60 permanent jobs.

The company is promising to establish a community consultative committee, with funding to complete community projects.

Fera says the estimated annual production of electricity will be two million MWh (megawatt hours) a year which would provide energy for 430,000 homes.