03/05/2006 - The Minister
for Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
today released a discussion paper on a proposed
national code for the construction of wind farms.
Speaking at the Business Council
for Sustainable Energy annual conference in Brisbane,
Senator Campbell said a National Code for Wind
Farms would provide the basis for consistency,
certainty and community confidence in wind power
as a future source of energy.
“The number of wind farms across
Australia has grown rapidly over the past decade,
due largely to the investment stimulus provided
by the Howard Government’s Mandatory Renewable
Energy Target,” Senator Campbell said.
“In 1996, there were only 20
wind turbines in Australia, with a total energy
generating capacity of around 2.7 megawatts. Today
there are 444 wind turbines, representing a 2120
per cent increase, with a total capacity of about
638 megawatts. Another 130 turbines are under
construction.
“This rapid growth of wind farms
in Australia has generated significant community
and industry concern and debate. While there is
a great deal of support for the wind industry,
I have received a large number of letters from
people across Australia unhappy with the consultation
processes, and the location and size of proposed
developments.
“The multiple planning and regulatory
arrangements operating across jurisdictions frustrate
and confuse them, raising the legitimate question
as to why there is no national standard.
The discussion paper reveals
that wind farms receive very different planning
treatment, depending in which State they are being
constructed. In South Australia, for example,
the Minister can refer a development such as he
did with the Myponga Wind Farm, where he determined
a 70-turbine wind farm should be reduced to 20
turbines (p. 12).
In NSW, however, until recently
the same process applied for approving a house
extension as it did for approving a wind farm,
unless the Minister exercised his ‘call in’ powers
to determine the project at the state level (p.
15).
“A key component of the code
should take into account the wishes of the local
community, often most fairly expressed by the
local council,” Senator Campbell said.
Senatory Campbell said he would also be holding
a roundtable of stakeholders to further develop
the National Code.
“I have written to my State
and Territory colleagues providing them with a
copy of the discussion paper and advising them
that the Australian Government, with the support
of NSW, has listed the National Code as an agenda
item at our next meeting of environment ministers
in June.”
