Article
Campbell rejects wind farm plan, calls for code
The Sydney Morning Herald|April 25, 2006
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has weighed in to a community debate on another wind farm project, rejecting calls to fund a scheme in Western Australia.
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell has weighed in to a community debate on another wind farm project, rejecting calls to fund a scheme in Western Australia.
Senator Campbell said a plan to build turbines on the coast near Denmark, 415 kilometres south of Perth, should not proceed until a national code was established.
"I think if we want to have a low carbon future with a lot of renewable power, we need to find a way to ensure that community concerns about visual impacts, about impacts on unique bits of coastline are assuaged," Senator Campbell told the ABC today.
"That's why I'm saying we need a national code - so community opinion can be taken into account."
Denmark Shire Council last year rejected a town planning scheme amendment to allow four to six turbines to be built, but the state government has given the project planning approval, saying the environmental benefits are worthwhile.
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Senator Campbell said a plan to build turbines on the coast near Denmark, 415 kilometres south of Perth, should not proceed until a national code was established.
"I think if we want to have a low carbon future with a lot of renewable power, we need to find a way to ensure that community concerns about visual impacts, about impacts on unique bits of coastline are assuaged," Senator Campbell told the ABC today.
"That's why I'm saying we need a national code - so community opinion can be taken into account."
Denmark Shire Council last year rejected a town planning scheme amendment to allow four to six turbines to be built, but the state government has given the project planning approval, saying the environmental benefits are worthwhile.
WA Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan says the proposal could still proceed without federal funding.
"If the bar is going to be set so wherever there is any opposition to wind farms there won't be any wind farms, then no projects would get up at all," Ms MacTiernan said today.
Senator Campbell last month prevented a $220 million wind farm project proceeding in south Gippsland in Victoria on the ground that one endangered orange-bellied parrot may die a year.
There had been no reported sightings of the bird within 10 kilometres of the proposed site.