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AGL Energy (AGL) this week announced that an independent noise compliance assessment on the wind turbines by the AECOM company had shown the farm was operating within the noise limits set down in its planning permit.
However, Annie Gardner said residents who lived near the turbines could still not sleep at night.
Also filed under [
Noise]
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is using noise testing near a Clare Valley wind farm to determine whether local residents' claims about health impacts are valid. ...Peter Dolan from the EPA says 57 residents will also be keeping 'noise diaries' to document their own experiences.
Also filed under [
Noise]
Under legislation passed in the upper house of State Parliament on Thursday, councils will be responsible for enforcing conditions such as noise levels on eight wind farm projects unless the permit conditions says the state planning minister is responsible.
Council CEO John Brak says it has now negotiated an amended application with the company.
"Primarily to ensure that no wind turbine was within two kilometres of affected dwellings," he said. ...Two local residents are still pursuing an appeal against the development, with a court hearing scheduled for next month.
The Australian study had a few valid points but in drawing such a strong conclusion, it was skirting the truth, he said. "...it looked to me as though they [the study's authors] had set out to prove something," Mr Low said. "They had an idea of what they wanted to ‘prove' and sure enough they ‘proved' it."
A report released last week from the University of New South Wales found that health complaints from wind farms had become prevalent after 2009 ...Southern Grampians Landscape Guardians member Keith Staff said “There are 20 people across the south-west, including Waubra who have evacuated their homes ...We are very objective and I reject anyone who infers that we are scaremongering.”
Aeroplanes couldn't fly within one kilometre of a stationary turbine, and weren't allowed within five kilometres down wind of a moving turbine. Wind farm company Epuron said turbines wouldn't stop fire fighting aircraft from assisting during an emergency.
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Impact on Landscape]
For four years, a handful of farmers in the district hid a secret that not even a weekly drinks session or years of friendship could drag out.
They had covertly opened up their farm gate to wind farm developers, lured by the cash offer of $15,000 for every wind turbine dug into their property - unbeknownst to the mate across the barbed wire fence whose hand they shook most days.
Aggrieved farmers from NSW's central west are gearing up for the mother of all legal battles, fighting an enemy that has ripped apart their communities and pitted neighbours against each other.
Their targets - wind farms.
As the federal government fumbles over its proposed report on the health implications, and the state government continues to waver on its position, farmers are already at war.
The EPA will measure sounds down to 0.25 hertz and will ensure wind turbine operator TRUenergy turns the wind turbines off and on when requested to get an accurate measure of background noise.
The testing follows a joint study in Wisconsin in the US that found enough evidence to "classify low frequency noise and infrasound as a serious issue, possibly affecting the future of the (wind) industry".
Also filed under [
Noise]
World's eyes will be on Waterloo as wind turbines go on trial
February 9, 2013 by Graham Lloyd in The Australian
February 9, 2013 by Graham Lloyd in The Australian
In the face of mounting international evidence and continued industry denials, Waterloo will become the test site for a noise-monitoring program which may reverberate around the world.
Over two months, SA's Environmental Protection Authority will continuously measure the lowest frequency noises from the Waterloo turbines. It will use its powers to force the wind company to co-operate by turning wind turbines on and off so there can be no dispute about background noise.
"There wasn't much evidence around but I was struck by the countryside. The more we drove around on inspection the more convinced I was the turbines would have an impact.
"I went past some time later when they were under construction and I was absolutely horrified to see the towers going up. They didn't have their nacelles (hubs) or blades on at that stage but I thought ‘what have I done to these people.'"
Also filed under [
Impact on Landscape]
In a statement, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon says the project will become a "white elephant that will be embroiled in litigation."
Senator Xenophon currently has a Bill before Parliament to introduce national standards on the level of noise created by wind turbines.
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Impact on Landscape]
Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources Ian Macfarlane said the Coalition is broadly supportive of a Private Members Bill from Senator Nick Xenophon and Senator John Madigan to impose national standards on noise emanating from wind turbines via an amendment to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.
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Noise]
Landholders supporting a proposed wind farm south of Kingaroy have called on the State Government to introduce buffer zone legislation based on the noise impacts in the specific region rather than a blanket exclusion area.
"These things are gutting agricultural communities," Mr Quinn told the rally, adding claims that wind farms boosted regional economies were a "fraud".
"Nobody wants to live near these things," he said.
He urged the protesters to "bombard and shame" their federal MPs into backing the bill.
New planning rules for wind farms will continue to allow turbines 1km from buildings but will give people affected by them the right to appeal.
The new rules retain the distance set out in interim planning arrangements which have been in place since October last year.
Moyne Shire wants more wind speed, background noise data before wind farm build
October 15, 2012 by Peter Collins in The Standard
October 15, 2012 by Peter Collins in The Standard
The state government is considering a request from Moyne Shire Council for more stringent testing of wind speed and background noise prior to construction of the Mortlake south wind farm.
It follows community calls for full disclosure to alleviate concerns about possible health effects from the proposed 51-turbine project.
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Noise]
Cottage renovation up in the air amid wind farm minefield
October 3, 2012 by Peter Collins in The Standard
October 3, 2012 by Peter Collins in The Standard
Bruce Allen fears he may be trapped in a legal minefield in trying to renovate a 125-year-old cottage on his Mortlake district property near a proposed wind farm.
Wind farm proponent hears environmental fears
September 20, 2012 by Lauren Day and Charlie McKillop in ABC News
September 20, 2012 by Lauren Day and Charlie McKillop in ABC News
Dozens of residents who turned out to yesterday's meeting about plans to build far north Queensland's biggest wind farm say their questions remain unanswered.
RATCH Australia, with partner Port Bajool, wants approval for the Mount Emerald Wind Farm, which includes more than 75 turbines near Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands.
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Impact on Wildlife]