Speaking with 2GB’s Alan Jones yesterday – just days before Taralga Wind Farm opens to the public on Sunday - Mr Abbott also expressed a desire to limit the number of wind farm approvals by further reducing the Renewable Energy Target.

“When I’ve been up close to these wind farms, there’s no doubt, not only are they visually awful, they make a lot of noise,” Mr Abbott said.

“What we did recently in the Senate was reduce… the number of these things that we are going to get in the future,” he said.

“Now I would frankly have liked to have reduced the number a lot more.

“But we got the best deal we could out of the Senate and if we hadn’t had a deal... we would have been stuck with even more of these things.

“This particular policy was a policy that was put in place in the late days of the Howard government and knowing what we know now, I don’t think we would have gone down this path in this way.

“But at the time we thought it was the right way forward. Sometimes you’ve got to deal with the situation that you’ve got rather than the ideal …”

Mrs Fraser, who is an organiser with the Australian Wind Alliance, yesterday refuted the Prime Minister’s comments, and said they exposed a government “out to get” the wind industry.

“With these comments, (Mr Abbott) has made it clear that he and his government are after the wind industry,” Mrs Fraser said.

“They want to cut critical wind renewables. “With the aesthetics of wind farms, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are many people out there who love the look of them.

“But it’s not about the looks - it’s about transferring away from the obscene threat posed to our agricultural land and farms by open cut coal mines and coal seam gas.

“When you look at wind turbines or solar farms, and then look at open cut coal mines, there really is no comparison.”

Mrs Fraser said that Mr Abbott needed to realise there was a much more nuanced debate happening in the community.

“One thing I’ve discovered through my roles with The Goulburn Group and the Sustainability Festival, is that so many people out there are supportive and passionate about renewable energy and sustainability,” she said.

“It’s a shame that we’ve got a Prime Minister and local representative who are actively trying to undermine this industry, which would be a real blow to regions like Goulburn.”

MR Abbott’s comments come as the NSW Planning Assessment Commission held a public meeting in Crookwell yesterday to hear submissions on the controversial Gullen Range windfarm.

The PAC, comprising chair Garry West, Annabelle Pegrum AM and David Johnson, heard 21 submissions at the Crookwell RSL yesterday morning.

Nearly 50 residents, supporters and objectors of the wind farm sat in the gallery to hear final submissions on the project, which is 25km northwest of Goulburn.

Last October, the PAC ruled that developer Goldwind was not allowed to shift 69 of its 73-turbine project. The application was retrospective, given that turbines had already been built. The company lodged an appeal in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Mother of three and Australian Wind Alliance member Dimity Taylor told the hearing that her property was 1.7km from the Gullen Range turbines.

She said her decision to raise her voice in support of Gullen Range and other wind farms was not an easy one to make.

“There are costs to standing up for the silent majority. That is why I am prepared to speak up for diversity of opinion and respect for differing views,” she said.

“I believe that wind farms can become a positive part of our communal life and the community has a critical role to play along with Government and the Industry in ensuring that the benefits are maximised locally.

“Too often it is assumed that there are only two views on wind farms and these are in opposition to each other.

“As renewable energy projects like wind farms become part of our landscape, I believe that the feeling in the community is much more diverse than the public perception,” she said.

No date has been set down for the PAC’s decision. 

The Taralga Wind Farm will throw open the gates this Sunday for a community open day.

Construction of the 51 turbine wind farm is expected to be completed in July, after the recent months of civil work and turbine installation.

“If you haven’t stood under a turbine before, this is a great opportunity to do so, and to have a chat to our staff. Bring your winter woollies, as it is likely be fresh out at the project,” says Siobhan Isherwood from CWP Renewables, the company overseeing the project.

Bus tours will be leaving from the Taralga Memorial Hall from 10am-2:30pm. To register your interest in the day, visit taralga-windfarm.com.au.