Wind farm discussion paper set for debate

The Federal Government has released a discussion paper on a national code for the construction of wind farms in Australia.

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell released the paper today at a national sustainable energy conference in Brisbane.

State and federal environment ministers are set to debate the issue next month.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government put a stop to a planned wind farm in Victoria because it could harm the endangered orange-bellied parrot.

Senator Campbell says a national code will provide consistency, with wind turbine numbers increasing from 20, just 10 years ago, to 444.

He says another 130 are under construction.

"It's become very clear over recent months and years that the massive upsurge in wind turbine construction in Australia has created some push back from a number of communities in Western Australia, South Australia Victoria and New South Wales in particular," he said.

"We know that that contribution will be limited unless we address this increasing community concern also the lack of empowerment they feel.

"That they are getting their rights taken away from them by governments who don't care what local communities think and that's why I think we need a national code, and that's why I'm very pleased that most of the state governments have agreed to work on this code with me."

Print Email