by david wright
The potential impact on visual amenity and noise levels will provide the basis for an appeal by four local residents against the proposed Mt Bryan Wind Farm which is planned for the Razorback Ranges east of Hallett.
They are appealing the June 4, 2009, decision of the Regional Council of Goyder’s Development Assessment Panel, which gave planning approval to AGL Energy for the development.
The appeal will be considered by the Environment, Resources and Development Court of South Australia with an expected five-day hearing to start with a site inspection of Mt Bryan on May 24.
A public meeting called by the appellants packed the Hallett Institute supper room on Friday night to hear barrister Peter Quinn, who grew up at Hallett and is the brother of appellant Bill Quinn, provide a progress report.
Peter Quinn said the appellants would argue that the Goyder DAP missed the target of the development plan in relation to visual amenity and noise.
He said the appellants hoped to engage Australia’s leading planning lawyer, Brian Hayes QC, to put their case to the ERD Court.
Mt Bryan farmer Andy Thomas, who lives within one kilometre of 11 wind turbines which are part of the AGL Energy’s Hallett Stage 2 wind farm, would give evidence about the effect of windfarm noise on his life.
Mr Thomas told Friday night’s meeting he suffered from constant headaches, and the noise from the turbines limited his sleep to three-and-a-half hours per night.
He said it was the growl of the gearbox, or the turbine itself, which created the noise problem.
“That’s the noise that gets to you, it’s not the swish,” Mr Thomas said. “You start to move the hell away from the turbines and that headache eases.
“The noise is like a force coming at you all the time. Even in winter, with all the windows shut, the noise still gets to you.”
Mr Thomas said AGL had investigated the noise problem at his property but had not yet provided the results of noise intensity tests conducted prior to Christmas.
The meeting was also read a letter from Clements Gap resident Jenny Stringer who said wind farm noise was affecting her health and television reception.
Peter Quinn said the appellants would engage a landscape architect to provide an expert opinion about the impact of the wind farm on the visual amenity of the area.
Local resident David McDonald showed a series of photos to the meeting which portrayed the untouched beauty of the Mt Bryan environment, including trees which are 2000-4000 years old according to DNA testing.
“I’ve always thought the eastern hills of Hallett are a beautiful backdrop for the township,” he said.
Appellant Dawn Booth said about half of the $55,000-$60,000 required to fund the appeal had been pledged.
“AGL has said to us ‘we have a bigger cheque book than you’ and they have,” she said.
Peter Quinn said the bid by the appellants was courageous and they should be commended. “What you’re doing is important work and you must not be afraid,” he said.
“Your children and your grandchildren will thank you for this and you must not be afraid.
“The support you’ve given them simply by turning up tonight has lifted their spirits,” he told the crowd.
In response to the Northern Argus’ query, an AGL spokesman said: “The alleged noise and visual amenity issues were considered by the Regional Council of Goyder’s Development Assessment Panel where AGL presented an extensive case addressing all issues raised.
“We are happy for the court to examine any alternative views that may be presented.
“In terms of noise, AGL is obliged to engage an independent noise expert to verify compliance with all EPA guidelines on noise emissions. On Hallett 2 we are currently undertaking post-construction measurement of noise levels from the wind farm in accordance with the development approval in order to demonstrate compliance with the EPA guidelines.
“AGL has presented extensive work on visual impact (the nearest turbine to Hallett is 3km away) and we believe this is essentially a matter of personal taste – some people like the look of wind farms, and some people don’t.
“The groundwater issue has been examined by independent groundwater consultants as part of our environmental submission and found to be without basis.
“No one has been able to explain how a wind farm could impact aquifers.”
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