Bango Wind Farm

I have read through the planning guidelines for wind farms in NSW. I am generally in favour of this proposal. The guidelines omit references to protection of the wind farm control and monitoring systems against cyber attack, software fault or malware. Since the output of the wind farm is presumably to be used to supply energy safely to the grid, perhaps for this project additional guidelines could be added to the tender.

I am a farmer from Rye Park and a strong supporter of wind farms for Australia's future for renewable energy. The Bango wind farm will join others across the Southern Tablelands region to secure the region as a very important part of NSW's clean energy industry.
As a farmer , we are directly affected by our unpredictable climate, and having alternate streams of income not related to rainfall is essential to make our business resilient.
The construction of the wind farm will allow graziers to continue to use their land alongside the new enterprise of harnessing the renewable resource of 'wind'.
The Bango windfarm project has an operator who is committed to the long term prosperity of the community by injecting funds towards community enhancement projects the order of $300,000 every year.
It also has landholders who are supporting the construction of turbines on their properties.
This project will employ locals from the community, improve the future for local schools and most importantly mitigate the effects of climate change by producing clean energy.
I can see no other potential developments that would allow this sort of economic benefit to the area, whilst allowing current agricultural operations to continue.
It's a "yes" from me!

My family owns a grazing property in Rye Park and I am a strong supporter of wind farms for Australia's future for renewable energy. We have been trying to get a wind farm developed on our property since 2012, as it is a development that will help meet Australia's growing demand for electricity whilst reducing green house gas emissions.
The Bango wind farm will join others across the Southern Tablelands region to secure the region as a very important part of NSW's clean energy industry.
There will be a direct injection of about $4 million per year to the local community through payments to landholders, permanent staff, local councils, and the community.
This project will create new jobs to boost the local economy, whilst allowing the current agricultural activities to continue.
I support this development.

I am the son of a farming family that live in Galong and own a property in Rye Park. The property they own in Rye Park is in line to receive a number of wind turbines. The benefits of this proposed wind farm are numerous and far reaching.
Primarily, it will provide a much needed supplementary income for a number of farmers that have struggled through years of drought and hard times. It will allow my own parents to build a house on the farm which they work, which has been a dream ever since owning the property.
The Bango wind farm will join others across the Southern Tablelands region to secure the region as a very important part of NSW's clean energy industry.

The Bango wind farm will inject new life into the Rye Park/Boorowa community through a community enhancement fund, long term employment for locals and economic stimulation. I believe that CWP entered into positive neighbourhood agreements that hold mutual benefit for the community and themselves.
Finally, on a wider scale utilising wind power as a source of green energy is integral for our environment. There is minimal impact on land use, high energy production efficiency and it is of course a renewable resource.
I strongly support the proposed wind farm and hope that it goes ahead.

Dear sir / madam,

I am making this submission as a landholder in the subject project but also as a businessman and a community member .
This project will have huge benefit to the Yass district simulating many businesses not only during the construction phase but also on going with the completed project requiring maintenance teams etc .
Whilst farmers in the subject area are having better financial times currently , farming is a cyclical business and the additional income to farmers in the area ( from the Windfarm ) will help smooth out and improve the abilty of farmers to remain economic over the longer term.....everyone benefits from this .
The subject project is largely away from hobby farm activity and in my view the visual impact is minimal ....
For farming to remain viable long term we need to contribute to keeping the planet at no more than 1.5 degrees C increase and for Australia to do it's bit we need to increase our renewable levels
People directly benefiting from this proposed project that I have spoken to are progressive farmers and realise that climatic change is happening and are keen to do their bit to assist the global community deal with the issue .
This project supports the recently released NSW Goverment paper on the path way to change our energy mix to a more sustainable one and one that in the longer term is cheaper than burning fossil fuels .
Finally, Yass sitting in the southern tablelands ( including Canberra) in my view has to be one of Australia's most supportive communities to move to renewable future and this project underwrites that wider community view.

I support this project as a financial beneficiary but equally as a member of the greater regional community

Robert Purves AM

1) I reject the construction of the proposed Bango Wind Farm.
2) I see no benefit for the adjacent communities.
3) I am concerned for the natural environment.
4) I have attended your meetings where possible because I reject the entire proposal.
5) The shale type escarpment designated for the construction is questionable

I have been a GP for the past 16 years. My interest in clean energy is therefore informed by my concerns about the effect climate change - and the associated extreme weather events caused - will have on my patients. As the mother of a five year old, the expected flow on effects caused by climate change over his lifetime cause me great distress. The benefits to the local community of increased income for farmers and local businesses, and improved local roads add to the proposal's attractiveness. On a personal note, the sight of wind turbines spinning and generating electricity with such little disturbance to the environment fills me with great contentment.

To whom it may concern:

Thankyou for the opportunity to lodge a submission concerning the proposed Bango Wind farm.

I generally support this proposal.

I believe this project will have many benefits for the region, for local business, for involved individuals, and for the country.

This project will stimulate the local economy by creating both long term and shorter term (during construction) jobs and by providing work for local contractors. We need employment in the local area to attract families to live locally, which in turn provides kids for local schools.

The other major industry in the region, that is agriculture, can happily co-exist with the wind farm. The wind farm can help secure farmers business' by adding an alternative income stream.

Millions of dollars will be added to the local economy through host and neighborhood payments. Also about $300,000 will be given to community organisations through a Community Enhancement Fund.

I personally don't mind looking at wind turbines and don't believe once there in the landscape they will worry me at all. Within the Office of Environment and Heritage report on `community attitudes to renewable energy' it seems even within 2km most people (59%) support wind farm development. Even if I did find wind turbines ugly, I don't think it would give me or anyone the right to veto the project, as I don't own the view.

The wind farm will I believe have significant benefits and minimal negative impacts and produce clean energy from an untapped resource.

Yours Sincerely
Craig Southwell.

I write in support of the proposal. I'm an engineer who has worked in the infrastructure and mining sector and I am excited about the opportunity for new job creation provided by clean energy infrastructure. It is important for us to create more jobs by building sustainable energy infrastructure in NSW.

I live in NSW and I can't wait to see the transition to 100% renewable energy in NSW.

I, the undersigned, am the owner of a large farm holding of some 2,000 acres in the Laverstock Road area. I am an elderly farmer who've lived in this area all my life and continued to operate the sheep business I started with my late husband in the 1950's. I totally object to the proposed Bango Windfarm development and the impact it will have on my family, property and amenity. I feel there has been no consultation with the land owners and complete disregard to our concerns. The visual impact, from my homestead, will be devastating - the familiar rolling hills will be littered with turbines that are almost 200m high! There are also numerous unanswered concerns with regards to noise and impact on health. The impact of this development will continue to affect my family even after I'm gone, as without any doubt the land value of my property will be greatly decreased. I have several lots all capable of having dwellings built on them and there has been no attempt to understand nor assess the potential impact on these future not yet developed lots.
I feel rather powerless and unsure as to what I as an individual can do to raise my objection, but I do hope the Department of Planning and Environment and the politicians will listen to the community and the people who will be so adversely affected.

Yours sincerely,

Bango Wind Farm Project

This is a positive submission.

My biggest concern is global warming and the future of my children and grandchildren. The climate is changing and if even some of the extreme events occur that have been predicted it will be a scary place.
We need to reduce and hopefully soon stop emitting carbon dioxide into our air to be able to slow and stop global warming.
By replacing coal power with wind is a good place to start, so we should be building as many wind power installations as possible.
If you look at how much energy is forecasted to be produced from this wind farm and how much coal is not burnt, then we must build it.
There are many other benefits that need to be considered as well these include;
* Jobs during construct
* Ongoing jobs to manage and run the wind farm
* Income to land holders
* A large ongoing community fund to the town
* Increased commerce in the local area because of the wind farm
* The investment in state infrastructure and grid
* Growing the national assets
* Moving money into the regional area away from the city environment
In summary wind is still the only technology available to provide this amount of energy with little or no impact on the environment.
The Bango wind farm is only 7ks from where I live, I and will have a full view of the northern end of the wind farm as I live in an elevated location looking down over Rye Park and on to the proposed hills where it is to be built. Other wind farms can all be seen from the hill on my place and I hope to be able to see these in the near future.

Regards
Rod Gibson
488 Crassy Creek Road
Rye Park
NSW 2586

We are potential Host Landholders for the Bango wind farm. We strongly support the development of the project and the submission made to gain Approval for it.
The Bango wind farm will bring significant benefits at Farm level, at District and Regional level and Nationally.

Farm Level:
Hosting the windfarm will provide the 15 farm businesses directly involved and the 6 neighbouring farmers with reliable additional income to enhance their business. In practical terms this money will be used to carry out conservation works, works which do not have an immediate payback and may not be undertaken otherwise. It will provide stability to the enterprise and the renewal of infrastructure, including OH&S improvements that may not otherwise be made.
District and Regional Level:
The district will benefit during the construction period and from subsequent , quality ,long term jobs.
Farm rental income will be predominantly spent locally, particularly as it is paid as an annuity and the nature of farm improvements made are provided locally. Improved access to difficult areas will assist fire fighting capacity.
National Level:
At a national level Bango wind farm will assist the National goals of transitioning the country to a renewable energy economy. It will provide jobs and economic activity which multiplies across the economy.
I commend the project to you
Wal Archer

I am a supporter of clean energy projects and value this community consultation step in the development process. I believe that where people have, perhaps legitimately, felt there was no consultation anti-wind energy views became more entrenched.

I support the Bango project and, whilst I do not know all the details, I understand that as well as consultation, other steps have been taken to improve the whole process. To more widely share the financial benefits of the project will smooth the way for acceptance of wind projects and the environmental benefits will follow.

Clean energy

The wind farm is expected to generate 1,025 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per annum for the 25 year life-span of the wind farm. Bango wind farm will contribute about 3% of the renewable energy generation required to meet Australia's renewable energy target (RET). It will assist NSW in achieving it's commitment to meeting this state's share of the RET.

The Bango Wind Farm will produce enough electricity to power about 140,000 homes.

The carbon footprint of the wind farm will be paid back in about 9 months.

The strong and consistent wind in the region where the Bango Wind Farm is proposed makes this wind farm an efficient use of agricultural land. A solar farm would need to cover about 700 ha's with solar panels to produce the same amount of energy as this project. By contrast, this project impacts less than 100 ha's of the total project site.

Farming

Local farmers will receive millions of dollars in total every year for the next 25 years, either in lease payments or through neighbour agreements. This will dramatically increase the financial resilience of the local farming economy and help farmers manage periods of drought and fickle commodity prices.

There are 15 local farmers who will host turbines and 6 neighbouring farmers have signed up to be partners in the project.

The construction of the wind farm and associated infrastructure will have negligible impact on continued grazing activities. There will be comprehensive traffic management plans put in place to minimise disruption to local traffic on public roads, particularly during the construction phase.

Local economic benefits

The Bango Wind Farm project is a huge project that has the capacity to inject millions of dollars into the local economy for decades. It has the potential to add $180 million of economic value to the Australian economy.

The wind farm will assist local employment, especially during the construction phase. 300 jobs will be generated during this phase. There will be a significant number of long-term permanent jobs on the completion of construction. These jobs will be in maintenance of the turbines and the associated infrastructure.

More people working in the community improves the future of local schools and sporting teams and means more money being spent in the community - which stimulates business and creates jobs.

There will be a direct injection of about $4 million per year to the local community through payments to landholders, permanent staff, local councils, and the community. About $300,000 of this will be paid directly to community organisations through the legislated Community Enhancement Fund contribution.

Local businesses will supply goods and services including accommodation, engineering, earthworks services, fencing and landscaping.

There is a contractors register on the project web-site where local contractors, service providers and businesses can register their interest in working on the project.

Local Amenity

The developer is required to make good on any road damage incurred through the construction period. Experience from other wind farms in Australia confirms that local council roads are significantly improved by the presence of a wind farm.

Significant additional traffic will only occur during the construction period with operation and maintenance adding little additional traffic to local roads. These traffic movements will be overseen by a comprehensive traffic management plan that is developed in conjunction with local councils and the NSW Government.

Ridges and valleys are a feature of the landscape in this region. Only parts of the wind farm will be visible to a viewer at any one time.

The planning for this project has required additional flora and fauna surveys to be completed, adding to understanding of the natural value of the area.

Water

Unlike coal-burning power plants, wind farms use no water in their operation, leaving local rivers and creeks untouched.
On-site water usage during construction will be mitigated by minimising vegetation clearance, retaining all contaminated stormwater and process wastewater on-site and locating stockpiles away from drainage lines and in areas least susceptible to wind erosion.

i KNOW THIS AREA. i APPROVE OF A WINDFARM HERE AND CONSIDER ALL WIND FARMS AND SIMILAR RENEWABLE EFFORTS TO BE BOTH URGENT AND ESSENTAIL FOR SURVIVAL.

Having been raised in the nearby Cootamundra-Wallendbeen fdistrict and seen thie country north of Yass on the ground and from a light aircraft during drought times, I understand that an additional source of income for landowners would enhance the resiliance of the cfarming ommunity.

My father, on his back under a car or tractor for repairs while wiping dust from his eyes, used to complain "this is a bugger of a place for wind".

Given that wind energy makes a positive contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, that the wider distribution of windfarms enhances the reliability of that resource, that the developer has assessed the project as economic and it presents no significant biodiversity risk, support for any such development rests on the degree of local public support.

On the information provided by the developer, I see no reason to question that support, to which I add my own.

We are placing a formal objection to the proposed Bango Windfarm

The reasons for this submission are as follows:

1 There are far too many Turbines visible from the village of Rye Park and are to close to populated areas.

2 If the Bango development eventuates Rye Park will be surrounded by Turbines at 3kl on the Eastern side with Trust Power Turbines , and about the same distance on the Western side with Bango Turbines. One can only imagine the noise and flicker this would cause as the wind factor here is either from the East or the West so the noise factor will be very constant.

3 After viewing the proposal for local roads in the area ie. Wargeila and Boorowa and Rye Park Roads as well as others, it is impossible for large oversize trucks to access these. Many trees would have to be cleared effecting bird habitat and many corners into private property would have to be altered. Increased traffic on these roads will greatly effect local residents who use these roads for work or supplies from local towns.

4 Wind farms will cause property devaluation in the village as well as rural land. This area is becoming a popular hobby farm area so who would want to live here if it becomes an industrial area.

5 Fire control would not be as effective in the area in a major fire because of restrictions on aerial fire control.

Hope you will give this submission your attention and consideration.

I support construction of the Bango Wind Farm. I own farm land that will host a turbine in the project.
The wind farm will bring many benefits to the local community. Generating electricity from wind has far less environmental impact than burning coal. Increasing renewable energy production will enable Australia to meet its commitments to reduce global warming.
The turbines will have a net positive effect for people living in the region. Rental money will come to local landholding families, which will mostly be spent locally in Yass and Boorowa.
Local jobs will be created during construction and operation. I have seen how another NSW town has benefited from this.
The Wind Farm Operator will make payments to fund community projects, which everyone in the region can benefit from.
The EIS documents show that the developers have consulted with local agencies and local people regarding development issues. I have confidence that the wind farm will actually improve amenity for local farmers. Roads will be maintained and there will be improved access for managing fires. Our sheep and wildlife will enjoy the deep shade on hot days.
I will have a good view of plenty of turbines in the landscape and I am happy to see them.
Please allow the Bango Wind Farm to proceed.

When I bought my 200 acre property at Yass I was buying a property in a rural area. I expected to enjoying the surrounds of peaceful and mostly undeveloped area away from any major roads or industry. I also poured much of my time and money into improving the soil fertility and supporting local fauna.

The environmental impact statement is jam packed with details but misses the main point: it is turning a rural area into an industrial area. It is adding noise to an very quiet environment where one can hear almost anything.

It is also adding huge turbines which will undoubtedly harm a significant number of bats and larger birds. The delicate balance in the local ecosystem will more likely than not be shifted to a new equilibrium which involves more pest such as the scarab beetle and other insects.

I believe the project is incompatible with the best interests of the local environment - the noise from the wind turbines is not going to magically stop in one or two kms away. It probably will annoy residents and animals many kms away,

I also believe that the proponent should be expected to formulate a plan and demonstrate that their project is not going to adversely effect bat numbers and insect populations and the health of native scrub (from scarab beetle damage) agree to shut down their wind turbines and compensate farmers for damage to their pastures and trees.