11 September
2006 - Representatives of the Australian Government,
local government, the wind energy industry, the
planning industry, community groups and non-government
organisations (the Participants) met today at
a roundtable discussion to agree on action to
progress the development of a National Code for
Wind Energy Installations.
The Participants acknowledge
the important contribution wind energy makes to
Australia's renewable energy generation and its
role in Australia's current and future energy
mix.
The Participants acknowledge
the rapid growth in wind farms in Australia over
the past ten years of the Howard Government -
an increase from 20 turbines to over 650 turbines
at the present.
The Participants acknowledge
that in order to effectively tackle the issue
of climate change it is vital that the community
is included in energy solutions.
The Participants recognise that
community engagement is fundamental. It does not
require every individual community member's agreement
but focuses on the need to put in place processes
to ensure that individuals, communities and stakeholder
groups have a meaningful role to play.
The Participants agree on the
need to balance the challenge of managing climate
change impacts with the protection of community
identified environmental, cultural and landscape
values.
The Participants acknowledge
community concern about the siting of wind farms,
in particular, the potential for impacts on the
landscape, turbine noise, land values and impacts
on wildlife.
The Participants agree that
consistency, certainty and transparency in policy
making, public consultation and regulatory approval
processes are critical to ensuring both developer
and community confidence for the siting and development
of wind farms.
The participants acknowledge
the relevance of any existing community-consultation
data/research undertaken by key stakeholders.
The Participants acknowledge
the work that is being undertaken by the wind
energy industry and the Australian Council of
National Trusts - funded by the Australian Government
- to strengthen the wind industry's Best Practice
Guidelines by developing a methodology to assess
landscape values.
The Participants agree that
this work could be encapsulated in a National
Code for Wind Energy Installations and that it
should encompass all stages of wind project development,
including: site selection and project feasibility;
detailed assessment; planning application; construction;
operation; and, decommissioning.
The Participants agree
that key elements of the code should:
• Establish a guiding framework for wind energy
developers for community consultation and engagement;
• Address the role of local government;
• Recognise key values of concern to local communities,
including wildlife preservation, landscape values
and amenity.
• Agree and endorse minimum standards for community
consultation and engagement to ensure community
and environmental values are protected;
• Provide for the transparent identification of
the needs of affected communities and promote
the accommodation of identified community needs
in site design decisions.
Ministerial Working Group
The Participants agree that the Minister will
appoint a Working Group to work with the wind
energy industry to develop a draft National Code
for Wind Farms comprising:
• One representative of the Australian Government
• One representative of local government
• Two representatives of the Australian Wind Energy
Association
• Community and professional representatives
