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Amy Hume
THE McHarg Ranges and Macedon Ranges were officially declared a “no-go” zone for wind turbines, following an announcement by Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, last Monday.
The State Government’s new policy means the McHarg Ranges, which includes Tooborac, will be one of eight regions and national/state parks to be included in the ban under the new Amendment VC82.
The policy also means wind turbines will be prohibited within five kilometres of regional centres and people living within two kilometres of a proposed wind turbine site will have the right of veto.
Under the policy, local councils now have the ability to appeal, represent the community and be involved in the planning.
Mr Guy said the new policy on would achieve “fairness and certainty” and “a balance between (wind turbine) companies and residents.”
“This is a tourist asset,” the Minister said.
“We don’t want any facility which will compromise those natural assets.”
Proposed wind farms near Baynton and Tooborac, a town partially located in both the Macedon Ranges and Mitchell Shires, have been an area of contention for some time.
Member for Northern Victoria Donna Petrovich said the Coalition’s new policy on wind farms would provide some surety for property owners in the Macedon Ranges and McHarg Ranges.
“It will give some clarity to these communities, who were wondering whether there would be wind farms in their areas,” Ms Petrovich said.
She said there were numerous applications from various concerned community groups that touted wind turbines in the McHargs Ranges.
“The previous legislation left communities high and dry with no right of appeal. The community now has a say and can be assured of a two kilometres buffer,” she said.
“I’ve had many phone calls from people in the area who are relieved because that anxiety has been removed.”
McHarg Ranges Landscape Guardians member John Howard has been vocal in trying to get wind farm projects proposed for the area shut down for years.
He admits, it’s been a “long story” but the region finally has some relief.
“The group is not against renewable energy, it’s really good if it’s put in the right places, but this area is most inappropriate,” he said.
“This debate has divided the community.”
Jobs lost
Clean Energy Council CEO Mark Bretherton said up to $3 billion in investment and hundreds of jobs for regional Victoria would be lost as a result of the State Government’s new restrictions.
“Carving out large areas of the state as ‘no-go zones’ sends a clear message that Victoria is closed for business when it comes to future wind energy,” Mr Warren said.
“More than half of future wind farms proposed in Victoria will not be built as a direct result of this policy.”
He said the policy was “completely arbitrary”, and would move jobs elsewhere.
Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said the decision now basically rules out any wind-available land for wind farms.
“This is basically shutting down the wind industry,” he said.
“We will lose jobs. New technology is being thrown out of Australian and other countries will benefit while we’re still burning coal.”
Mr Guy rejected these comments, claiming the new policy wouldn’t suppress investment opportunities in wind power in Victoria.
“I don’t believe it will stifle wind power development in Victoria,” Mr Guy said.
“Renewable energy is of course an area which needs to be harnessed by government (but) wind energy can’t be built in an area which compromises regional Victorians.”
Mr Guy said the policy was not retrospective, with all 1000-odd applications for wind turbines already approved across the state to proceed.