ANTI windfarm protestors will be hoping to get the attention of Premier Mike Baird at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Goulburn today.
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About 30 people opposed to the Jupiter Wind Farm will send Mr Baird a “stern” message at the $50 a head Southern Star function.
The Premier will also be in town for this morning’s Police Academy Attestation Parade and this afternoon’s Rocky Hill War Memorial Forecourt opening.
Protest organiser Jane Keany said supporters will be wearing white tshirts with ‘No wind turbines’ written on them.
They’ll also be wearing ‘Goward Gag’ masks – a reference to Planning Minister and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward not making comment on the Jupiter proposal.
“We are hoping to let Mr Baird know three crucial points about wind farms,” Ms Keany said.
“These are that there must be no new wind farms in locations where they may harm neighbours; that existing wind farms must be operated under rules that prevent harm to neighbours; and that electricity consumers must not be forced to pay an excess to benefit wind farm operators.”
The Premier’s visit also coincides with concerns that the Grabben Gullen Windfarm developer has defied NSW Planning stopwork orders.
President of the NSW Landscape Guardians Humphrey Price-Jones said Goldwind had a crane operating on one of the turbines, known as BAN-25, on Wednesday (see story page 3).
Mr Baird, along with NSW Governor Professor Marie Bashir and Police Minister Stuart Ayres, will preside over the attestation of 170 new recruits at the Goulburn Police Academy from 9.30am.
Head of the Academy Superintendant Julie Middlemiss told the Post that there would be a police dog display and a performance by the Police Pipes and Drums band, as well as an aerial display by the PolAir team.
Mayor Geoff Kettle said Mr Baird would then attend a forum with surrounding regional mayors and businesspeople from midday at the Council Chambers.
After the lunch they will then proceed to the Rocky Hill War Memorial for the official opening of the War Memorial Forecourt at 2:30pm.
“Because the State Government was so generous in providing funding for the upgrade, I thought it appropriate I write to the Premier and ask him to come and officially open the forecourt, which he graciously accepted,” Cr Kettle said.