“If there’s one thing they could have done better, it’s the community sharing,” both admit.

The ‘they’ are wind farm developers.

“So there is an opportunity for the community to take the lead … a chance for people to take control of negotiations and start a process of collective bargaining.”

Mrs Fraser, a treechanger with 30 years in community services, executive management and small business consulting, has teamed up with fourth generation Crookwell sheep grazier Mr Prell to become NSW organisers for the Australian Wind Alliance (AWA).

They spoke to the Goulburn Post last week about their new roles.

The “blossoming” wind farm industry, as they call it, has hit the Southern Tablelands like a fierce late August westerly.

Only this wind hasn’t wreaked destruction, contrary to the claims of some loud critics – rather, it has generated construction.

The only windfarm in the region just 10 years ago was the tiny (by today’s standards) Crookwell 1 project built almost opposite the Prell property in 1998.

Now, there are hundreds of electricity-producing turbines on ridges criss-crossing the region.

The Taralga Wind Farm is currently being built, while projects at Collector and Crookwell (on Mr Prell’s property) have won approval.

The environmental gains are manifold.

The economic benefits mind boggling.

There are seven wind farms either operating or being built in the Capital/Tablelands region.

There are another nine that have been approved or are still in the planning phase.

The AWA states that, combined, these projects would generate 1507 construction jobs, power about 639,000 homes and save 3.2 million tonnes in greenhouse gasses.

Each wind farm project spends around $10-15m in the local community during construction and then $3m per year once they are operating.

Local retailers, hardware suppliers, tradespeople, car service centres, motels, hotels, apprentices – even local OH & S trainers all benefit from wind farm construction.

For instance, the number of Divall’s Earthmoving staff working on renewable energy projects has tripled to 48 in the past 18 months.

So, it should be an easy sell for Mrs Fraser and Mr Prell? Not necessarily.

“A lot of the extraordinary benefits of wind farm developments is lost in the dialogue,” Mr Prell said.

“What makes the news is the controversy … the review of the RET or bad planning decisions.

“We need to see our way through that.”

Mrs Fraser said the overwhelming sentiment amongst the community was one of “passive acceptance”.

“Many landholders and business owners across the region are quietly supportive of wind farms but prefer to stay out of the controversy,” she said.

“They have personally experienced the economic benefits of renewables. Many feel fortunate and proud to be in a region with natural resources that support both renewable energy and agriculture at the same time.”

But the controversy surrounding the siting of turbines at Gullen Range Wind Farm is undeniable The NSW Planning Department has issued developer Goldwind a draft order to move nine turbines its says were built in the wrong location.

Mr Prell accepts things should have been done differently.

“Remember, we’re talking about just one wind farm project and, in this situation, I think some of the neighbours have a valid argument,” he said.

“The industry needs to learn from this … government, planning personnel and local communities as well.

“I accept issues related to noise and supposed health impacts, but there is some antagonism out there that is the result of jealousy.

“I am trying to advocate for the communities, as a whole, to embrace these projects and to get as much benefit as possible … whether they are farmers, hosts, neighbours or businesses.

“Communities need to bargain collectively.

“If you fight the supermarkets alone as a farmer, you’ll lose. But a collective of farmers will have influence.”

Last year alone, Goldwind spent $12.3 million locally during the construction of Gullen Range wind farm 30km west of Goulburn, the AWA said.

Mrs Fraser is also actively advocating the benefits of wind farms to politicians, particularly the local variety.

Member for Hume Angus Taylor has called for an overhaul of the RET.

In April he joined Member for Goulburn (and now Planning Minister) Pru Goward and Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle to protest the ACT Government’s plan to source renewable energy from wind farms in the capital region.

“Communities like Tarago and Yass, and everywhere in between, hate them, they cause enormous dissent,” Ms Goward told the ABC at the time.

Mrs Fraser: “We need a shift to more positive leadership on these issues, so that communities are not left to flounder.

“Comprehensive action to address climate change should be welcomed, not resisted.”

Visit: www.windalliance.org .au