Article
Clouds gathering over wind farm plan
The Australian|Natasha Robinson|January 9, 2006
Almost every property in their street, apart from those of the farmers on whose land the turbines are being built, is for sale. "I've watched my husband work all his life to build this home," Mrs Cicero said. "We've never had loans, we've always worked and saved. And now we find everything that we've put in here, it's all worth nothing." The Ciceros had their home valued at $410,000 before the wind farm was taken into account. Afterwards, the estimated value dropped to $270,000. They have not received one offer for their property in two years.
Almost every property in their street, apart from those of the farmers on whose land the turbines are being built, is for sale. "I've watched my husband work all his life to build this home," Mrs Cicero said. "We've never had loans, we've always worked and saved. And now we find everything that we've put in here, it's all worth nothing." The Ciceros had their home valued at $410,000 before the wind farm was taken into account. Afterwards, the estimated value dropped to $270,000. They have not received one offer for their property in two years.
THE picturesque fields of Foster North, in Victoria's South Gippsland, have become a battleground with farmers and residents divided over a proposal to build a massive wind farm.
Farmers who will benefit from the 125m turbines being built on their land are pitted against their neighbours who bitterly oppose the 48-turbine, 2000-hectare Dollar Wind Farm project.
And as state governments grapple with energy demands amid a looming coal crisis, it is a fight likely to be played out in communities around the country.
Victoria's Government had "ridden roughshod" over the Foster North and Dollar communities in refusing to give their council a say on whether the proposal went ahead, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said yesterday.
The…
THE picturesque fields of Foster North, in Victoria's South Gippsland, have become a battleground with farmers and residents divided over a proposal to build a massive wind farm.
Farmers who will benefit from the 125m turbines being built on their land are pitted against their neighbours who bitterly oppose the 48-turbine, 2000-hectare Dollar Wind Farm project.
And as state governments grapple with energy demands amid a looming coal crisis, it is a fight likely to be played out in communities around the country.
Victoria's Government had "ridden roughshod" over the Foster North and Dollar communities in refusing to give their council a say on whether the proposal went ahead, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said yesterday.
The Victorian Government made its decision before Christmas on the project, planned for the northern side of the South Gippsland Highway at Foster North and Dollar.
It is yet to publicly announce if it approved the wind farm. Premier Steve Bracks has pledged to source 10per cent of the state's energy from renewable sources by 2010.
The Dollar Wind Farm project was previously the work of a New Zealand-owned company but the project was sold last year to Australian company AGL.
The proposal is now with Senator Campbell, who will consider if it poses national environmental concerns.
In Frank and Theresa Cicero's quiet, winding street in Foster North, local opposition to the wind farm -- which will see a turbine built 800m from their bush retreat -- is easy to find.
Almost every property in their street, apart from those of the farmers on whose land the turbines are being built, is for sale.
"I've watched my husband work all his life to build this home," Mrs Cicero said. "We've never had loans, we've always worked and saved. And now we find everything that we've put in here, it's all worth nothing."
The Ciceros had their home valued at $410,000 before the wind farm was taken into account. Afterwards, the estimated value dropped to $270,000. They have not received one offer for their property in two years.
They say if the turbines are erected, they will have to cope with an incessant sun flicker, noise, and a viewing platform.
A spokeswoman for the Victorian Government said it was a complex issue and the Government understood that the community had concerns.