Antinuclear

The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG) and Friends of the Earth released a report on voters’ views at the site of a community-owned wind farm near Daylesford last Thursday.

The report included results of a community survey, which found that 86 per cent of Macedon respondents supported community wind farms similar to those at Hepburn Wind.

Almost 90 per cent of the 700 people surveyed believed communities should be able to develop their own wind facilities.

A total of 97 per cent of respondents preferred renewable energy sources over fossil fuels.

And 80 per cent of those aware of the state government’s anti-wind farm laws supported their repeal. The laws, introduced in 2011, banned wind farm projects in the Macedon Ranges, Otways and Dandenongs.

MRSG spokesman Alastair Fleming said while issues such as education, health and jobs were a major election focus, many Macedon voters were frustrated by the ‘‘extraordinary contradiction’’ in the electorate.

‘‘Australia’s first community-owned wind farm thrives near Daylesford, but the arbitrary no-go zones created by Ted Baillieu and endorsed by Premier [Denis] Napthine have killed off a community wind farm proposed for Woodend,’’ he said.

‘‘The Labor Party has vowed to rip up the anti-wind farm laws. The Greens support restoring fair laws. Voters want to know where the Liberal Party stands.’’

Mr Fleming said climate change was real and something every level of government needed to deal with.

‘‘At a state and federal level, we are going backwards,’’ he said.

Labor’s candidate for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, said she was not surprised by the strong support for renewable energy.

She said Hepburn Wind was a good example of how a community wind farm and beautiful landscape could co-exist and the ALP saw renewable energy as a great regional employment opportunity.

Liberal candidate Donna Petrovich said the party’s ban on large-scale wind farms still stands. But she said, if elected, she would work closely with community groups and local government to develop a site-specific amendment in a suitable location to allow smaller turbines.

Friends of the Earth spokesman Leigh Ewbank said the government had introduced the ‘‘world’s worst anti-wind farm laws’’ without proper consultation.

Recent reports suggested Liberal candidate Donna Petrovich may support exemptions for community projects, but ‘‘Macedon residents want more renewable energy and they want the anti-wind farm laws dumped,’’ he said.