Windfarms are a relatively new concept to the region, and to Australia, and have been around in Europe for much longer, but it’s still surprising to see that internet search engine Google brings up a choice of 437,000 sites which relate in some way or another to windfarm opposition.

Overseas there are many groups opposing wind farm development either as a general principle or for individual sites.

There are groups in Scotland, England, Canada and the USA and countries in between.

Opposition includes the visual amenity, noise from the motors, damage to ecology, health issues, as well as concerns about the power which is really generated from the turbines and who ultimately benefits.

When wind farms first appeared in Australia they were praised as a tourist attraction, with tourism operators taking advantage of the opportunity and laying on bus trips to take visitors up close and personal to the giant structures.

The gloss seems have worn off with so many turbines now dotting our countryside, and they have now almost been relegated to a “ho hum” factor.

Love them or hate them, it seems there is a growing body of evidence and concern that wind farms are not all they were originally cracked up to be.

There must be something wrong or there wouldn’t be so many community groups opposing their construction.

It’s gone beyond the NIMBY syndrome (not in my back yard) – and there seem to be some repetitive themes from opposition groups that bear looking into.

While the State Government praises its own foresight in allowing the widespread construction of windfarms, it might be time local government got in on the act and took a proactive role for their own communities.

A moratorium on wind farm development until the social, environmental and health issues are ironed out to everyone’s satisfaction would be a positive step. It would be a sad indictment on our regional leaders if their legacy turns out to be a local disaster.

No matter what anyone’s opinion on wind farms it is becoming obvious that more studies and more time needs to be put into them.

It will be too late in 20 years time, if wind power is superceded by some other initiative and our landscape is dotted with abandoned turbines as far as the eye can see.