Delburn Windfarm Proposal.

Just as Britain assumed Australia was Terra Nullius (nobody’s land) and proceeded to usurp the rights of the traditional owners, OSMI Australia Pty Ltd, assumes that they have a right to develop a wind farm at Delburn, ignoring the opinions and feelings of nearby residents. Their only motive is profit. There are three main beneficiaries from this project, The Developers; Stephen Buckle and Peter Marriott who each stand to make millions if their plans are approved and HVP who will receive over a million dollars per year in rental. HVP is American owned and profits go overseas. HVP claims on their website that they are “Good Neighbours” but have not consulted with locals on this project. 

The Boolarra Community Development Group held a postal ballot last year to gauge public opinion on the wind farm, 360 ballots were returned, most of them opposing the windfarm. OSMI has not achieved social licence for the project despite a year of publicity and propaganda.

OSMI have recently submitted environmental planning applications to both the Federal and State Governments. It is important that this project is given absolute scrutiny by the appropriate authorities to ensure that if it does go ahead, every possible consideration is given to all native species that will be affected by the project. The public can comment on these submissions, details on how to do so can be found on OSMI’s website or: http://www.strzeleckicommunityalliance.com/

The Strzelecki Community Alliance represents most of the affected residents. This group is not opposed to wind farms, just the inappropriate siting of the Delburn proposal within pine and eucalypt plantations. Many Boolarra residents are fearful of a repeat of the 2009 bushfires and despite claims to the contrary by OSMI and recent letter writers to this paper, it is highly possible that this wind farm will increase fire risk in the area.

Overseas studies have shown that wind turbines dry the nearby environment and increase local temperatures. No scientific studies have been conducted in Australia into this drying effect and subsequent fire risk. The authorities must therefore adopt a precautionary approach and not allow the project to proceed in an area of extreme fire danger until thorough Australian scientific research has been completed. Any possible drying of the forests must be considered in the light of expected increased temperatures due to global warming. Experts are warning that fire risk is likely to increase dramatically in future. The slightly wider access tracks that OSMI claims will improve fire safety will not prevent fire spread on a windy day due to ember attack. Ground crews will not risk their safety in a plantation fire. Fire-bombing aircraft (especially the newer larger types) will be limited to flying in narrow bands between the turbines and will not be able to manage fire across the whole plantation environment. 

Wind farms in other states have had planning applications refused because of visual impact. This project will see 33 turbines, each as tall as the Rialto building with blade diameter larger than the MCG oval. To claim that they will have negligible visual impact is laughable. OSMI have a map in their Visual Impact Assessment which shows that all the turbines will be visible over a huge area. Motorists driving along the Strzelecki Highway will not be able to avoid the sight of the wind farm. Drivers will be distracted by the sheer size of the turbines, some as close as 100 metres from the Highway. It is inevitable that this distraction will lead to accidents. It is a proven fact that if a driver looks at an external object for more than a couple of seconds, his vehicle will veer of course in the direction the driver is looking. There are no mitigating measures that can minimise this risk.

It is obvious that there are two sides to every argument. While some may claim that the “Green Progress” is more important than the opinions of local landowners, is this really any different to stealing land from indigenous tribes for “The Greater Good”?

Graeme Wilson

Delburn Resident.