Wind farm opposition group responds to Fera article

STRATHBOGIES Responsible Renewables Community Group has provided a response to the comments from Fera representatives in the May 8 edition, regarding the proposed wind farm in Murrindindi and Strathbogie Shires.

Landholder rights

The Fera article stated: Regarding public opposition to the windfarm project, Mr Lawson said, “First and foremost, if people don’t want the wind farm on their property, we’re respecting that, we’re saying that’s okay.

We still want to talk to you and explain what’s going on, but that is absolutely your right to dictate what happens on your property.”

SRRCG response: “This statement is completely misleading and is at the core of the community’s objection to this proposal.

While host landholders will receive financial compensation for allowing wind turbines and transmission towers or lines on their properties, several hundred neighbouring landholders face the prospect of

Community engagement and misleading information

The Fera article said: Mr Lawson states that “We’re looking at providing information to the public.

We try and keep all of our reports and everything updated on the website, so as we do an environment report, all of our presentations will be on the website.

We certainly make ourselves available to anyone, whenever we receive any communications, and we’re proactively going out to try and meet with people,” Mr Lawson said.

“We are constantly told of incorrect information that is going out into the public and we find that really disappointing.

One side has a genuine intent, and is providing information based on the facts and what we’re actually doing, and the other side is providing misinformation to people about the height of the turbines, the location of powerlines, the height of the powerlines.

There’s lots and lots of incorrect information. Obviously we’re trying to make sure that people have access to the information, and we’re able to provide to people in a very transparent way, what’s going on.”

SRRCG response: “Fera’s approach to community engagement lacks transparency and consistency and fails to provide critical information about the project’s progress, scope, infrastructure locations, and potential impacts on landholders.

Despite commitments to disclose turbine and transmission line locations by the end of 2023, this information remains unavailable, leaving many in the potentially affected community unaware of the project and its potential impacts.

Contrary to their assertion that they “keep everything…

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