An Ashhurst family have been asked to record noise from wind turbines they say are making life a misery. The Brock family, who have complained about loud noise and low-frequency sound from Meridian Energy's Te Apiti wind farm since 2004, say Meridian has now sent them a recorder and microphone to use on days the turbines are especially noisy. Wendy Brock said the recorder would catch the roar of the turbines during strong easterlies, but would not register the low-frequency sound that sometimes wrecked her family's sleep for weeks on end.

A farmer at Waubra, west of Ballarat, says people living near a wind farm could be getting sick because of the design of the turbines. Noel Dean says he has been forced out of his home because low-frequency noise from the 128 wind turbines.

The court found the introduction of turbines would detract visually from the area to an unacceptable degree. Ms Godfrey told the hearing in January she was forced to move from her Waubra home because of sleep deprivation, headaches and nausea after turbines began operating.

But some residents in a small Victorian farming community are claiming the noise from nearby turbines has made them sick and subsequently forced them off the land. Noel Dean and his family left their farm in Waubra, about 30km north of Ballarat, after experiencing constant headaches when turbines.

Emerging research showed a direct link between living close to wind farms and stress-related symptoms like anxiety, tinnitus, high blood pressure and heart problems. ...Nanango MP Dorothy Pratt said it was "totally unacceptable" to locate turbines near homes. "I think we seriously need a 3km buffer and as soon as possible because people's health should be first and foremost," she said.

The commissioners agreed the Marshalls would suffer significant adverse effects from the wind farm, but did not agree they should have a power of veto over the project. ...The Marshalls' lawyer said the appeal asks for the seven turbines closest to their property to be dropped from the project.

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.

Twenty-five people fired their concerns at TrustPower major projects manager Deion Campbell and environmental officer Ryan Piddington about a project they said has divided the community. TrustPower hopes to build the $500 million wind farm on nine properties in the hills behind Mataura. ... The land owners' biggest concern is the impact the wind farm will have on their property prices. TrustPower had "handsomely" compensated those people whose land would be used for the turbines while neighbours had been left in the cold. The consequences for them were only negative with pristine views spoiled and fears that noise from the turbines would cause a drop in property values.

Senator Steve Fielding says Victorians with concerns about the health effects of wind farms have been let down by the State Government's inaction. Sevel residents of Waubra, west of Ballarat, say a 128-turbine wind farm there is making them feel sick.

"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.

Opponents of a controversial wind farm planned near Wellington are going back to court, claiming new evidence could limit the hours the project is allowed to run. Makara Guardians have asked both the High Court and the Environment Court to consider hearing submissions about the noise expected to come from Meridian Energy's West Wind project near Makara. ... Makara Guardians lawyer Graham Taylor said the group was not appealing against the project in full, but wanted to bring new evidence before the court about conditions relating to wind noise.

The Jardine family has owned their property at Snowy Plain for generations. David Jardine is the fifth generation of his family to own the land and his young grandson should be the seventh.

A South Australian GP has launched a fundraising effort to sponsor research into the health effects of wind farms. ...Dr Sarah Laurie says she started the Waubra Foundation because there has been no locally-based research.

Results from testing at Waubra windfarm have led Ballarat University lecturer, Graeme Wood, to consider undertaking further investigation to understand what effects the turbines are having. "There are grounds for investigation," he said. ...Speaking last Friday, he said that noise levels are not extreme, but there is a much broader band present than originally expected. "There is more noise at low frequency than expected. The turbines make a range of sound," he said. Also of interest are high pulses of sound, several times a second.