Rand's testimony shows that, when it comes to wind turbines, what you can't hear can hurt you. It puts the spotlight on whether governments and the wind industry are hiding behind the reality that you won't find what you don't look for. It is difficult to reconcile Rand's experience with confidential briefings reportedly given by NSW Health to politicians who claim health impacts from wind turbines are "not scientifically valid".

In a decision released today the court has ruled the windfarm, owned by New Zealand Windfarms Limited, has been operated in such a way that the noise effects for neighbouring residents are considerably greater than those predicted in the resource consent application.

almerston North City Council's noise specialist Nigel Lloyd opened his case to slash turbine numbers for the proposed Motorimu wind farm yesterday. The joint hearing by commissioners was in its second day of overtime and looks set for a couple more. There were 218 submitters on the proposal within the allowed time period, 91 of whom indicated they would like to speak on their submission. Yesterday was the opening of the council's presentation.

"We don't make up health problems," Samantha says. "The hardest decision we've ever made was to walk away from our family home." She says the turbines have been built too close to houses.

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."

According to NZ Windfarms' consent application, many residents were supposed to experience "nil noise effects" from the two-bladed turbines. The council argues that not only do residents hear wind farm noise, they hear tonal noise - considered the most irritating for humans because of its pure pitch.

Wind power companies offering farmers lucrative contracts for turbine sites are driving a wedge between some country communities as neighbours are forced to "pay up or put up" with noise disruption and possible health problems. Three farmers involved with new wind farms told Rural News that power company negotiators tell farmers there will be no potential noise or health problems from turbines, in spite of contrary evidence from international researchers. One farmer says he signed up for 14 turbines, to earn $140,000 per year for 40 years, after being told by the power company that the turbines would be "ecofriendly". Now he thinks he should have done more research.

After days of detached and often numbing pontifications from hired consultants, it was a stark contrast yesterday to hear some of the closest residents bring a human face to the hearing in Ngaruawahia. "I can only speak from the heart and it is breaking," said Ohautira Rd resident Wendy Reid. She said up to 24 of the turbines would be directly visible from her home of 19 years. Ms Reid variously referred to the wind farm as "a glorified and cunningly gift-wrapped power station", "a gigantic monolith" and "visual pollution" which would cause catastrophic distress, anxiety and fear. "It is dividing friends, neighbours, and families in half," she said. "It is destroying lives and lifestyles and turning me inside out personally.

A resident furious about the spread of wind farms has warned of dire consequences if major developments proceed. Annie Gardner lives on a property east of Macarthur and formed a local Landscape Guardians group in 2005 after Southern Hydro announced plans to build Australia's largest wind farm on her boundary.

Giving evidence, fuelled at times by anger, frustration and tears, nearly 30 local residents spoke of ill-health, property devaluation, environmental damage and communities split by wind farm developments. ...Ms Read called the spread of wind farms a "complete social injustice".

Following a six-month investigation, findings from a parliamentary inquiry into rural wind farms were released last week, which included recommending more community consultation on developments and a two-kilometre setback from dwellings. The General Purpose Standing Committee made 21 recommendations including research into compensation options for affected residents, the consideration of local government development control plans, noise modelling.

Residents of the open, rolling hills of Kaiwera yesterday argued that the visual impact of the huge turbines proposed for the Kaiwera Downs wind farm would be like having Manhattan at their back door. Collectively and individually residents of the area strenuously voiced their opposition to TrustPower's proposed 83-turbine wind farm within a 2568ha site in their district. ...Wind farms should be built closer to the more populated main centres and heavy industry, such as the windy hills of Canterbury. "There is no doubt in our mind there is a selective morality, when it comes to where wind farms are placed, by the powers that be," Mr McFadzien said. The group and individuals made submissions highlighting the project's adverse effects on their lifestyles and livelihoods caused by noise, dust, traffic and, most importantly, the visual pollution of turbines.

Cr Griffin said the changes were in line with the shire's existing wind farm policy, which stipulates no dwellings within a two-kilometre exclusion zone. "While the shire will incur extra work and cost as the responsible authority for determining any wind-farm applications, we welcome the change in laws.

Tararua-Aokautere Guardians president Kevin Low said resource consent conditions or compliance for many wind farms in the area were not strict enough, judging from the complaints heard by councils. The "sub-audible" low-frequency noise irritated people, he said.

An engineering expert has started testing noise levels at properties near the Waubra wind farm. Some residents close to the farm say low frequency noise from the turbines is damaging their health. Ballarat University engineering lecturer Graeme Hood will do the tests.

Turbine noise will likely be the most contentious issue at a hearing to decide if an extension to Te Rere Hau wind farm should be allowed. Thirty-three of 36 neighbours of the proposed wind farm, east of Palmerston North, oppose an extension because of noise concerns. New Zealand Windfarms yesterday defended its record on turbine noise as it sought the right to add 56 turbines on the eastern side of the Tararua Ranges. ...Despite a series of complaints about noise, the company argued it could show it was complying with consent conditions.

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.

The beautiful Puketoi ranges will be turned into an "industrial park" if locals don't put a stop to the proposed Waitahora wind farm, the head of an opposition group says. Last week, Contact Energy announced plans for a $500 million, 177-megawatt wind farm on the remote Puketoi ranges, east of Pahiatua.

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.