Wind Prospect has lodged an objection to the conditions placed on the erection of a wind monitoring mast on the Camel’s Hump Ranges near Clare.

The wind farm developer lodged an application for the temporary 50m tall monitoring mast with the Clare and Gilbert Valleys council’s Development Assessment Panel last month.

The proposal attracted strong community opposition and resulted in panel members making a site visit to see the proposed location of the mast for themselves.

To preserve the integrity of a locally heritage listed dry stone wall on the ridgeline and close to the site of the proposed mast, the DAP approved the development with a condition that the minimum distance of the guy wires from the dry stone wall be 20 metres.

The council’s principal planning David Case said the panel had been concerned about the proximity of the guy wires to the wall.

Wind Prospect development manager Stuart Whiting said the company wanted to put the monitoring mast as close to the ridgeline as possible, and were asking for a five metre proximity to the wall, rather than the recommended 20 metres.

“This is the fundamental reason we have suggested five metres, and the reason we are appealing is that 20 metres from the wall would push us down the ridge,” he said.

Wind Prospect is proposing to fund an independent expert to look at the location and advise a suitable distance.

“We have chosen this location as it is representative of the wind regime along the ridgeline,” he said.

Mr Whiting said there was an approximate two-year time frame between the erection of a wind monitoring mast and an application for a wind farm.

“Once we have the mast up for six months it will give us a good indication of what the wind regime is like and we will start taking a look at the data, at which time we would commence the consultation process with the community,” he said.