Antinuclear

Residents near Windy Hill, Queensland, speak about wind energy

(includes video) Winds of change generating a powerful debate over Mt Emerald   The Cairns Post Tony Stickley, April 14, 2012 The proposal of a wind farm at Mt Emerald has created a strong debate over noise issues for residential properties nearby. The Cairns Post explored how residents at Windy Hill feel about the wind farm noise.  CLEAN, green renewable energy powering 60 per cent of Cairns and the whole of the Tableland shines like the holy grail of electricity generation. Could you live next door to a windfarm? Listen to Windy Hill residents and make up your own mind.
It is a glittering prize that few would turn their backs on.
If it gets the go-ahead, the proposed $550 million Mt Emerald wind
farm near Walkamin will also provide a boost for the local economy and
is promised to become a drawcard for high-tech tourism on the
Tableland.
In addition, there is a separate plan for a $12 million Asia Pacific
Energy Innovation Centre where visitors can learn about energy
efficiency.
It is estimated that during construction of the wind farm there will
be up to 100 people working on site with ongoing employment for 10 to
15.
The innovation centre, featuring a 200-seat restaurant and galleria
with 30 display units leased to organisations showcasing energy
generation technologies, would provide long-term jobs for 80 to 100
people……
developers Ratch (Australia) and partners Port Bajool, who own the
2400ha site, say there have been no peer-reviewed scientific studies
indicating damage to health from noise.
They say the wind farm would be designed to keep noise levels below
limits set out in Queensland and Australian guidelines.
Their website quotes Doctors for Environment Australia, who say: “A
number of allegations have been made in relation to adverse health
effects of living near wind turbines which do not appear to be
supported by scientific evidence.”
They say renewable sources of energy are good for reducing the threats
caused by fossil fuels which they say are “responsible for a
significant disease burden in our community”.
The developers are pushing the environmental benefit of producing
electricity locally from wind power instead of transmitting it from
coal-fired generators in Central Queensland and losing 30-40 per cent
of power en route.
John Morris, a Port Bajool director, said the proposed wind farm
promised “a reliable source of renewable energy on our doorsteps” that
could power about 75,000 homes.
He said it would provide energy security in a crisis, should power
lines go down, and the shorter transmission distance to the Cairns
market would ease cost pressure on power bills.
Mr Morris said the main transmission lines would run through the
property and wherever possible, they had moved the turbines into the
plateau to make them less visible.
While some would be visible, he said they had done their “very best to
minimise the impact”.
Visitors to the innovation centre, including people wanting to build
an energy efficient house, would be able to learn about energy saving
appliances and sustainable building materials.
“It is going to be a major drawcard for tourists,” Mr Morris said. http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/04/14/214501_local-news.html

April 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Queensland, wind | wind