Planning for the Bald Hills Wind Farm should be handed over to South Gippsland Shire, according to Member for Gippsland South and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan.
The call comes after the Environment and Natural Resources Committee today tabled its report into the approval process for renewable energy projects in Victoria.
Mr Ryan said the Labor-dominated committee had recommended local government be excluded from the planning process of wind farms.
“The Brumby Government is riding roughshod over local communities,” Mr Ryan said.
“Coalition committee members tabled a dissenting report recommending local government be made the planning authority for all wind power plants.
“The interests of local communities would be better represented if local government was made the responsible authority for wind farms.”
Mr Ryan said Planning Minister Justin Madden’s decision to sign off on a 25-metre increase in the height of the turbines at the Bald Hills Wind Farm showed the government was not listening to residents and landholders.
“The changes to the Bald Hills Wind Farm prove just how arrogant and city-centric the Brumby Government has become,” Mr Ryan said.
“The turbines will now be 135 metres high or tall enough to dwarf the light towers at the MCG.
“The Minister has treated communities directly impacted by these changes, such as Foster and Fish Creek, with utter contempt. The Brumby Government cannot be trusted to make decisions based on the interests of the community.”
Committee member and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the Brumby Government had failed to supply local government with the resources it needed to deal with wind farm developments.
“Local government needs to be given the tools and resources to ensure proper planning at a local level is carried out,” Mr Walsh said.
“The reality the Brumby Government simply does not care about the difficulties facing councils, residents and landholders when it comes to these kinds of developments.”
To view the ENRAC report online visit: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/enrc/inquiries/renewable_energy/report/report.html
Media contact: Stephanie Ryan (03) 9651 8520
