Community interest in NSW wind farms

Grassroots support for wind farms in NSW could lead to the development of two more wind projects in the state.
Community-owned wind farms on the Central Coast and Armidale regions are being looked at as a way of providing cheaper power and reducing the carbon footprint in those areas.
Woy Woy resident Joachim Muller says areas such as Kariong and Somersby near the F3 freeway provide ideal spots for wind turbines.
Although concerns have been raised about low-level noise pollution and aesthetics, as well as the possibility of bird deaths, Community Environment Network Chairman John Asquith says the concerns are not viable arguments and he sees “no logical objections” to the turbines on the Central Coast. “There is no evidence that wind turbines cause more bird deaths than any other tall building,” he said.
The Armidale region has also seen support for a community-owned wind farm, having received the support of more than three-dozen near neighbours of the proposed site.
The New England Wind Consortium have recently liaised with residents situated in a four to five kilometre radius of the proposed wind farm site at Herbert Park near Armidale.
Residents attended a community forum in April and a general meeting in June. Concerns were raised about the safety of light aircraft used in the area for crop dusting on nearby properties. However, New England Wind Project Director Adam Blakester said preliminary advice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority indicated that it won’t be a problem. “Light aircraft need to duck and weave past various other obstacles at present, such as powerlines and mobile phone towers,” Mr Blakester said.
New England Wind has organised a study tour to Capital Wind Farm near Canberra in September for nearby residents and those interested in investing in the local wind farm.”This will provide an opportunity for community members to get some first-hand experience of wind farms.” “We could hand out papers showing scientific data about their impact, but it’s a lot more effective to get out there and give people that first-hand experience,” Mr Blakester said.