Wind power a financial winner for South Australian farmers
they will receive about $15,000 per year for each turbine on their properties. Each turbine requires about half a hectare of space. A wheat crop on the same amount of land would yield about $300
Farmers to reap more from wind than crops, Adelaide Now, Katrina Stokes , September 01, 2011THIRTY Yorke Peninsula landowners will reap an average of $90,000 a year to host wind turbines on their land in a $1.3 billion development.Residents have embraced the proposal that will 180 wind turbines on farms near Ardrossan and provide 25 per cent of the state’s daily energy needs.
The landowners are tight-lipped about the development, but The Advertiser understands they will receive about $15,000 per year for each turbine on their properties. Each turbine requires about half a hectare of space. A wheat crop on the same amount of land would yield about $300. Most of the area, which stretches between Port Vincent to just past Pine Point, is owned and run by grain growers and graziers.
The face behind the idea is Sandilands landowner John McFarlane, who came up with the idea 20 years ago after reading about wind energy in New Scientist magazine and making a trip to Denmark……
“It means a lot for South Australia as far as power generation is concerned and it means a lot for the Yorke Peninsula as having major industry in the centre. And it means a lot to the farming community because it will bring added value to the land owners of the wind turbines,” he said.
A bonus from the development could see the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network reach the region sooner than expected.
“We think we can bring that sooner to the Yorke Peninsula by running it at the same time as we put the cable down,” Mr McFarlane said……
Pine Point resident Lindsay Beer said the wind farm would be a positive injection to the area.
“Once the infrastructure is in, you’ve only got maintenance. Wind power is free after that,” he said.
“I think they look majestic. It’s going to keep local young people in the area instead of going to Adelaide to make a living.”
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