Hills of Gold Wind Farm
Hills of Gold Preservation Inc (HOGPI) commends Tamworth Regional Council's draft submission expressing concerns/objection to Engie's proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm, near Nundle.
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Council's submission raises considerable doubt about whether the proposed site is suitable for such a large-scale renewable development.
The proponent's EIS lacks critical engineering detail for new roads to transport turbine components, direct and indirect biodiversity and heritage impacts, and accurate site-specific soil information with consequences for turbine and road building.
Details are missing on tree removal in villages and roadside clearing, direct impacts to residents on the transport route from blade trespass, and decommissioning (including landfill).
It describes extensive disturbance and clearing of 513ha, removing koala habitat, pre-European old growth forest and remnant native vegetation, and ignores potential impacts to Ben Halls Gap Nature Reserve and Crawney National Park.
The proposal is surrounded by non-associated landholders, and there are still nearby residents who have not been consulted.
The EIS understates the impacts of construction traffic, noise and visual amenity, while overstating potential benefits such as ongoing jobs.
TRC supports renewables developments with its involvement in Dungowan Dam Pumped Hydro Energy Storage, approval of Tamworth Solar Farm, and support for Manilla Community Renewable Energy Inc. Solar projects in the pipeline include Middlebrook Solar Farm and Westdale Solar Farm.
Hills of Gold Wind Farm is not needed at a cost to the environment, does not have community consent, and should be rejected by the state government.
Megan Trousdale, Hills of Gold Preservation Inc, Communications Sub-Committee Chair
Wind farm debate
I note what I consider much miss-information on the Nundle Wind Turbine matter.
Both length and dimensions, how to get the Turbines in place etc.
Recently Water NSW had a series of ZOOM meetings (open to the public) in regards to the Dungowan Dam project.
I participated and found it extremely informative. Not only that, I felt that it gave very useful information to Water NSW.
Let's have similar meetings, open to the public, so the Engineers involved can answer the public concerns and interest about this proposed Wind project.
Bladen Brooke, Boambee East
Nationals' stance on zero emissions is baffling
The Nationals stance on achieving zero emissions is baffling and contradictory. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has stated somewhat forcefully that 'we are not going to whack regional Australia... in any way, shape or form just to get a target for climate in 2050.' Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has even threatened to cross the floor if agriculture is not exempt from a net-zero emissions plan. Yet droughts, floods and fires exacerbated by global warming, are exactly what have hit our regions for six in recent years (Bureau of Meteorology State of the Climate report, 2020). Farming bodies such as the National Farmers' Federation support the need for emissions reductions and recognise that we are already facing the consequences of global warming. Yet McCormack asserts that '... I'm certainly not worried about what might happen in thirty years' time' as regards climate change.' Such a statement demonstrates a callous disregard for the welfare of younger generations, in cities and regions alike.
Anne O'Hara, Wanniassa
Misuse of science
The Australian Tennis tournament is using the new Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling system rather than line umpires, a sensible move given COVID restrictions although there is the possibility of an unexpected option beyond out and fault, advertisements.
Advertisements in papers and on TV are a regular part of life and there are so many logos on players uniforms that surely enough brand names are out there for anyone to want but apparently no. The line calling system may now call out Buy Brand X or Brand Y will make your skin glow or if it is connected by Wi-Fi there are many other message that an enthusiastic hacker could call out and have heard by the whole world. This could be the new version of Trump Twitter posts now that his voice is silenced for a while.
Again, a good use of science that can be misused and abused by big business.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Defunding coal
Mining is the backbone of Australia but ANZ bank has announced that it will no longer finance our coal industry. So we should not fund them. Yesterday, Judy and I withdrew all money we had invested with ANZ.
Viv Forbes, Washpool, Queensland