Upper Lachlan Shire Council has a prudent development control plan for industrial wind farms. One of its controls stipulates that all wind turbines must be sited at least twice tip height (ie. topple height) from a public road. This is a safety measure designed to minimise the risk of injury or damage from such hazards as driver distraction, ice throw, flying fragments from blade shutter, or turbine fire, and even from tower collapse. These hazards are not unknown overseas in Europe and North America. Indeed, hardly known to locals, it is fact that a blade over 50 metres long “fell off“ one of the Gullen Range turbines in March last year. However, the council with its controls was not the consent authority for the Crookwell II wind farm. This project was approved by the State Government, first in 2004, with later modifications in 2009 and 2017, allowing the turbines to increase from 107m to 152m in tip height.
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I am concerned that the three turbines close to the Elmgrove Road turn-off in the Crookwell II wind farm do not meet the council’s public safety standards because they are nowhere near the required 304m (2x152m) setback. I have raised this concern with the Department of Planning and Environment only to be told that, legally, there is nothing it can do, but will ask one of its compliance offices to look at the matter.
If the law prevails and the giant overseas corporation proceeds to erect these three potentially unsafe turbines to close to Goulburn Road, then it is my opinion that the developer and promoter of Crookwell II wind farm have placed receiving the subsidised income from these machines above any concern for public safety along Goulburn Road.
Malcolm Barlow, Crookwell