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State Significant Development

Determination

Bowmans Creek Wind Farm

Singleton Shire

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Construction and operation of a wind farm with up to 60 wind turbines and associated infrastructure.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Request for SEARs (2)

SEARs (2)

EIS (11)

Response to Submissions (7)

Amendments (11)

Additional Information (28)

Recommendation (4)

Determination (2)

Approved Documents

There are no post approval documents available

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

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Enforcements

There are no enforcements for this project.

Inspections

There are no inspections for this project.

Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

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Showing 81 - 100 of 168 submissions
John Wood
Object
Lochinvar , New South Wales
Message
I am putting in an objection to the Bowmans Creek wind farm. The wind farm has not consulted with people who will be impacted by the wind farm and the proponents have mislead the public on numerous occasions including the impact on property values, the noise from the wind turbines particularly in winter, the visual impact of the wind turbines and the increased risks due to fire and the inability to control fires when they break out.
I know numerous people who will be impacted by the wind farm including people who have just found out they will see a lot of turbines from their homes in Muswellbrook. Epuron have not consulted adequately with any of the community including people who live close to the wind farm and the people in Muswellbrook, the people who live in Muswellbrook should not have to rely on word of mouth to find out about the wind farm. The people I have told work do not have enough information or time now to put in an informed objection the planning process is letting them down badly.
People have been told by Epuron that property values do not drop and use a couple of reports one written as a preliminary report for the NSW Valuer General in 2009 and one written in 2016 by a company called URBIS. I have seen evidence that shows both reports are wrong and the majority of property that has any impact by the wind farm will lose value. The 2016 report is also very limited to only assessing properties within 2km of wind farms, however it does not identify if these properties have any agreements with the owners of the wind farms. Not with standing the properties still lost value. Both reports are also not being used for their purpose the 2009 report was written as a Preliminary report, a preliminary report is not relevant 12 years later when wind turbines are twice as high as 2009 and the impact of these turbines is a lot greater. The 2016 report indicates that any third parties should obtain expert advice on the report before using it for any other purpose, Epuron have not advised that they did this. The analysis I have seen on both reports shows beyond doubt that property values will drop.
The noise impacts have not been assessed correctly in the noise assessment, the noise assessment has not taken into consideration the cold frosty morning that are prevalent in the Hunter Valley when noise travels the most and is loudest. This issue was raised in a Senate enquiry and a couple from South Australia who hosted turbines on their property indicated it was the worst thing they had ever done and the turbines could be heard 19km away during cold frosty weather. The reason the noise travels so much on frosty nights is because noise propagation from a source to a receiver relies on the velocity of the noise travelling through the air, the quicker the velocity the higher the noise. The velocity of noise travelling through air depends on the density of the air the higher the density the quicker the velocity. Cold dry air has an higher density than warm moist air. Frosty cold dry air in the Hunter Valley is attributed to high pressure weather cells which also increase the density of the air. The noise model indicates the worst weather for noise propagation is when the temperature is 10 degrees Centigrade at 80% humidity, this is not correct it looks as if the consultant is trying to manipulate the outcomes to help Epuron and mislead the public the Minister, by indicating the noise is within the guidelines and there will not be any issues with noise at the homes where people live.
The fire risks is also increased by the wind turbines frire fighters will not be able to use aerial fire fighting to control any fires that impact on the wind farm project site, whether the fire starts on the site, by either the wind turbines or infrastructure or other means or spreads onto the site from an external source. Epuron have indicated that wind turbines do not catch on fire and the infrastructure does not cause fires, this is not correct a quick google search will bring up numerous examples just in Australia and a multitude of examples around the world. The information Epuron have provided on wind turbines, wind farms and infrastructure is wrong and misleading. To make matters worse the majority of neighbours close to the wind farm live on narrow heavily timbered roads that are one road in one road out, this was recognised as a major issue in the recent NSW Government hearings after the major fires in the summer of 2019/20. It has to be remembered that 26 people died in those fires.
Epuron are proposing 60 220m tall wind turbines to be built on the ridges mainly to the East of Muswellbrook. Epuron have indicated in their EIS that the wind turbines will not impact on the visual character of the area or impact on peoples homes who live near to the wind farm. The wind turbines will tower 500 - 700m higher than these homes and will dominate the skyline. Epuron have includedin the EIS an outline picture of the Bayswater Power station stacks and cooling towers to show how large the wind turbines will be. Bayswater is built in the bottom of a valley and can still be seen very distinctively from over 40km away. The blades on the wind turbines will be 80m long, this will give a swept area of 21,000 square metres for each wind turbine. For some perspective the Sydney cricket ground is also 21,000 square metres. Each wind turbine is like the Sydney cricket ground whizzing around 220m high and there isn't one turbine there will be 60, 60 Sydney Cricket grounds 220m high whizzing around 24hours per day 7 days per week and Epuron indicate the visual aspect is negligible and will not impact on peoples amenity.
The EIS also indicates there are no Koalas in the area of the wind farm and non on the wind farm project site, this information is also incorrect and misleading. Koalas have been seen on numerous properties associated with the project including Strathclyde owned by a Mr Ross Clydsdale Mr Clydsdale confirmed there were koalas on his property in a newspaper article in the Hunter River Times. Mine owned offset land next to the project site also contain Koalas. Epuron have tried to mislead people about the Koalas because they know they are endangered and could influence the Minister decision for approving the project. Epuron have also failed to find evidence of other endangered animals that are known to be present on the project site including spotted Quolls and the Grey Headed flying fox. If the animal or bird is not endangered they just about disregard it the Wedge Tail Eagle is not endangered and Epuron touch on it briefly to say they have evaluated the impacts of the Wedge Tail Eagle including it in a risk assessment. T e risk assessment indicates a collision by a Wedge Tail Eagle will be a moderate risk. This risk must be for the wind turbine not the Wedge Tail Eagle that will die. Epuron even cover of the death of birds indicating they have modelled how many birds will die and they will then count them to see if the model is correct. Epuron do not indicate what they will do if their modelling is not correct however I suppose it will be eventually as all of the birds are killed off. This attitude should be abhorrent to everyone and if anyone has ever watched a Wedge Tail Eagle or a pair of Wedge Tail Eagles soaring for hours they will be lost for words at this attitude by Epuron "Just model how many will be killed off and count the corpses. The biodiversity assessment is also flawed in other ways, regarding the amount of time assessing the site, not assessing the whole site identifying 1052Ha of a project site of nearly 17,000Ha and then not even correctly assessing the 1052Ha, and not assessing the site during the different seasons. This lack of detail has meant the site did not identify the migratory birds and butterflies that frequent the site or even just pass through on their migratory path. Australia is signatory of numerous migratory bird treaties, we do not know if these treaty should come into play in regard to the migratory birds.
Epuron first came to prominence in early 2018 in the Hunter Valley regarding the proposed Bowmans Creek wind farm, by August 2018 they had built two illegally constructed wind monitoring masts one in Singleton and one in Muswellbrook LGA's. They were made aware that the wind monitoring masts were constructed illegally however Epuron decided to ignore the relevant NSW planning legislation for 17 months in regard to the wind monitoring tower in Muswellbrook. After 17 months they decided to lower the height of the wind monitoring tower to comply with the NSW SEPP for temporary wind monitoring towers. The SEPP indicates a temporary wind monitoring tower can be constructed for 30 months before it needs to be taken down. The 30 months was up at the end of February 2021, however the temporary wind monitoring tower is still in place. Epuron have come into the Hunter Valley with a blatant disregard for the relevant NSW planning regulations, they have not conducted adequate consultation and any consultation they did carry out they mislead the families of the area as already indicated in my submission. Epuron are not good corporate citizens they try to cut corners and mislead and then ask to be trusted to be given approval to build a wind powered power station in the beautiful Hunter Valley and basically say trust us. I am sure if they could get away with it they would do a risk assessment on the families impacted and treat us like the Wedge Tail Eagle population around the site.
It has been shown the proposed Bowmans Creek wind farm should not receive approval under any circumstances, Epuron have not done the work required to meet the legislative requirements.
Sandra Robertson
Object
MUSCLE CREEK , New South Wales
Message
Please see attached Document of 4 pages plus 3 attachments
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
hebden , New South Wales
Message
I have lived in the Hebden for more than fifty years, my parents having purchased a property on which they wanted to have a secure home and future for their family. Since a child, I have worked alongside my parents in all of the uncertainties of life on the land; droughts, floods, bushfires, economic ups and downturns with the view that this property would be security and sanctuary for future generations. After my father was killed in a tractor accident on the property in 1984, at the age of seventeen I began running the property with my mother until her death and continue to breed commercial beef cattle for the local market. Our property is at the end of Hebden Rd and will be directly impacted by the proposed wind farm development from three directions, north, east and west. The property is in a highly productive beef cattle breeding area, which is stunningly beautiful with rolling hills, pristine vistas and amazing wildlife and birdlife, including a rare white sea eagle which makes its home in trees on our property during early spring each year.

If the proposed Bowmans Creek Wind farm development goes ahead our lives will be negatively impacted and future generations. I formally object to the proposal and am concerned about the impact of the following issues:

Visual Impacts
o A lack of information regarding any mitigation measures taken to deal with the visual impacts.
o Photo montages provided to us by the proponent are not accurate as they are not to scale. A disclaimer written on the montage indicates this to be the case.
o No negotiations with us regarding the siting of the turbines close to our property. We are located approximately 2.5-3 kms from the nearest turbines.
o No neighbouring agreement has been discussed, offered or forwarded to us for consideration.
o No indication from the proponent if there will be 24-hour flashing navigation lights installed on the Turbine tower.
o The EIS does not include photos of the wind turbine with a height of 220m which is deceptive

Noise Impacts
o We will be exposed to noise impacts from turbines from the north, east and west. There will be no respite as wind from any direction will carry the noise to our property.
o No accurate indication of the noise levels has been provided to us by the proponent
o No mitigation measures have been discussed with us in regards to noise impacts.
o The proponent has failed address the impact of blasting during construction.
o The proponent has not addressed the noise impacts of batching plants, crushing and screening.

Heavy Vehicle access/Dust
o Hebden Road has been designated as the only heavy vehicle access road for the development. Construction, installation and ongoing maintenance of the approximately 60 Turbines, with hundreds of heavy truck movements making the hazardous and unsafe.
o Construction of some 60km of unsealed gravel access tracks, clearing of vegetation and preparation of Turbine pads will create dust during construction, and ongoing dust issues during the life of the wind farm when wind conditions are present, or maintenance vehicle movements occur.
o Dust will be created during construction of electrical substations, overhead and underground power lines to connect the project to the grid
o Truck movements for transport of earthmoving equipment for construction, Turbine housings and blades, cartage of gravel for access roads, cartage of water to the concrete batching plants for production of concrete will make the road hazardous to local traffic and school bus movements, and cause major inconvenience and delays for all local residents.

Environmental Issues
o Damage to the environment from clearing of vegetation to facilitate construction of roads and Turbine pads
o Pollution of local creeks and waterways from runoff after vegetation has been cleared, which will impact farm water supply quality
o Increased bush fire risk due to Turbine fires, and restricted aerial water bombing capability in the area due to the huge Turbines
o Impacts of noise and dust to Ravensworth State Forest which is an important ecological community, Hillcrest Biodiversity offset area which is a commonwealth approved koala habitat, local properties where there have reported sightings of koalas, and local birdlife including rare wedge tailed eagles and sea eagles as mentioned above
o No information provided on the vibration impacts that blasting will have on our residence
o No plan in place to dismantle and recycle the Turbines at end of life, liability for this lies with the landowner who may not have the financial resources to dismantle the Turbines.

Transparency
o No transparency or oversight regarding landowner agreements. Property owners required to sign confidentiality agreements and not discuss with community members.
o No transparency or oversight regarding neighbour agreements. Property owners required to sign confidentiality agreements and not discuss with community members.
o Wind data was gathered from a monitoring tower constructed without Council Development Application (DA) approval. This data is now being used to compile the recently released Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
o No representation from local council at community meetings to address resident concerns
o No information released by Councils to the general public

Land Values
o The proponent has not proven that land values would not be negatively impacted.
o Plans were in development to build a residence using the stunning views surrounding the property but with the visual impact of seven turbines to the west, north and east and the obvious drop in value of the property, this has been put on hold.
o The importance of food security is foundational and the upper Hebden area is highly productive in its ability to provide high quality, naturally produced beef.

Sources of Energy
o The use of Redbank as a biomass power station negates the need to develop another wind farm locally and also provides significantly more permanent jobs.
o The recent approval of Illawarra hydrogen and gas capable power station will provide the necessary replacement energy for the closure of the Liddell Power Station.
o Wind farms have proved to be a fluctuating and unreliable source of energy, dependent on favourable wind conditions to generate electricity.

Personal Impact
o The dust from the construction and gravel maintenance road will adversely impact my husband’s asthma because the westerly winds will funnel it directly over our home. Currently we are not impacted by mining dust because they are located to the south of the property.
o The loss of the visual beauty over 270 degrees of our property is irreparable; the dark night skies will be destroyed by the aviation night lights on the wind turbines, the spectacular sunsets impacted by 220m turbines, regardless of the wind direction we will have noise because we are surrounded.
o To transform a one lane (Scrumlo) road into a major, multi vehicle thoroughfare leaves residents in constant fear of accidents.
o What used to be a close community, where friendships were life-long has been broken by the underhanded tactics of the proponents causing division and misinformation.
o The obstruction caused by the turbines for fighting bushfires from the air should not be minimized particularly given the recent widespread devastation across our state.
o It is stated by the landowner in The Hunter River Times whose property the major access road goes through that there is rainforest, koala habitat and giant grass tree forests which would ultimately be lost should the project go ahead.
https://hunterrivertimes.com.au/not-for-sale-great-homes-money-cant-buy/

Plans we had to rebuild the residence on the property to secure our long-term future and have a safe place for retirement are now in question. Many issues remain unclear and unresolved. We now face the real prospect of constant visual, noise, dust and traffic impacts from this proposal.
Attachments
nicole large
Object
Muswellbrook , New South Wales
Message
To Whom It May Concern,
I strongly object to the Bowman’s Creek Wind Farm.
My family has been here for 5 generations me being the 5th, I have seen changes to things that have happened here at muscle creek all the new comers and goers all the goers have been since the talk of the wind farmers coming and how they never told the new comers of the wind farmers till it was too late for them to back out of moving here and they are not happy at all.
My grandfather uses to own where these wind farms are going it was then handed down to my uncle and he said before died that he didn’t want the wind farms he died and it was then given to his daughters they did have it on the market and I truly believe that they took it of due to these wind farms they don’t even live here so it’s really not going to worry them they will reap the rewards that we all have to put with.
I loved riding up there on horses to be with nature and able to look over the valley it was great just me and my horse you’re going to tell that was back then and I will tell you that we out here are able to go through there as it is a through road and with the wind farms going ahead, I won't be able to do this as the height and sound of the wind turbine would scare the hell out of any horse.
WE have such a beautiful little community why would you want to tear people apart with these wind farms most don’t really want them it comes back to the mighty dollar or the ones that have the property that they inherited my grandfather would have said no as did my uncle and as I am saying NO to the wind farms.
The I fear that the wind Turbines will upset my horses as horses are very susceptible noises, I do a lot of horse events with them and need them to be at their best at all times.
Also, what will happen to the wild life that live there are we going to have the bats move closer to us and the wedge tail eagles die of and when the wind turbines have had their time what happens then are you expecting the wild live to come back, I don’t think so
when it boils down, I'm only a small voice in a big pond of want a be’s my small voice is saying NO to the Bowman’s creek wind farms save our beautiful lands and the land of others that don’t want this to happen them.
Let us keep this untouched for today and for the future for our kids.
Nicole Large.
Elizabeth Mccarthy
Object
Forresters beacg , New South Wales
Message
I have family friends on muscle creek road and in fact are proposed to lay approximately 980 metres from on of the largest turbines in Australia.
We are absolutely horrified at the thought of this wind farm being approved.
To think what we call our little slice of heaven, serenity filled property that we love so much because of its purity and connection with nature, to have a site for a wind farm so close to the residence is devastating. I am submitting this form in total objection to this project.
Keep muscle creek, muscle creek. Windfarms don’t belong here.
Name Withheld
Object
Muscle Creek , New South Wales
Message
We object to the project as
#1 : Sound will have major impact on all residents throughout the Muscle Creek and Bowmans Valley. From major universities in Europe there is now a lot of data available on sound impact in relation to direct and indirect health impacts . This starts from disturbed sleep patterns up to hart attacks and mental issues.
#2 : Visual impact. In our valley we have a lot of nature already disturbed by mining. This last bit of nature is not impacted and we would like to think we can keep that this way. Sunrise will never be the same again nor will the night view as light will be flickering on the horizon.
#3 : Wild life. From a number of studies overseas it has been proven that wild life gets majorly impacted. In the area we are talking about 60+ wind towers at 220 meters of height. These will take out masses amounts of birds as they get disoriented due to the sound impacts and moving of the blades will restrict echo which a number of birds fly with. Larger ground and tree mammals will be leaving the area due to sound and visual impact (shadow flicker will drive a lot of animals insane). Also the large impact the wind factory will have on the cutting off trees will move a lot of wildlife from the area.
#4 : Ground organism. A number of Dutch studies show that ground organism is badly impacted by wind factories. This would be a major impact for this area as this has large part in micro organism and removing of some of the ground cover as dry leaves etc.
#5 : Farm animals and pets. Again from Dutch research and some Finish research it shows that breeding in farm animals is heavily impacted and in the beef and horse industry that is present in this area it will have a large negative impact.
#6 : Property value is another major issue in the area. Around major wind factories it is proven that property value can fall by up to two thirds and in many cases property doesn't get sold at all as no one wants to live near a wind farm.
Some facts : Being the size country we are and the resources we have available why do we need to import these things from overseas from our exported iron-ore and coal? Not that green after all.
Why not use coal in new clean burning plants? All infrastructure is in place. all we need is a new plant and it will keep local economy thriving for many years to come.
Wind factory needs ideal between wind speed 5 and 8 to produce to an optimum of 80% research in this area has shown that it is not suitable for wind.

If this project was suggested for the Northern beaches of Sydney would it go ahead?
If it was a project 2 km of shore from Sydney would it go ahead?
If this was proposed in your backyard would you agree to it?
Name Withheld
Object
MUSCLE CREEK , New South Wales
Message
I object to the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm
Our Family moved to our beautiful home in Muscle Creek just over 10 years ago. We moved here because it is a quiet friendly small community within 10 minutes to the edge of Muswellbrook.
We purchased the property so our son could grow up in a small rural community with lots of wide-open spaces and room to run around, ride horses, motor bikes and bush walk with the family dog.
I have been involved with breeding and showing horses for over 40yrs. My husband and I both work within the Energy Industry within the Upper Hunter area. We have both worked in the same job with a combine total of almost 60yrs. We both have worked extremely hard for what we have established, and we hope to pass our beautiful property onto our son so he too can raise his family here.
Our property is fully established for breeding horses which has been for many years with the 1971 Golden Slipper winner Fairy Walk born here, hence the property being named after this successful racehorse.
From our veranda we see 9 of our neighbors who most live on acreages larger than ours, most are cattle breeders and others having show horses.
Up until recently we have all resided happily in our beautiful peaceful valley. Up until we learnt that Epuron were doing investigations on constructing a wind farm of up to 60 turbines, in our small friendly community, which has now created anger and hostility among all who reside in our small area with decades of friendships broken and a divided community.
Epuron are proposing to construct a Wind Farm consisting of up to 60 turbines on the ridgeline behind my property, the project area is 17000 acres. The location of almost one third of these turbines start within 3.5km to the rear of my property boundary. From the misleading photo montages that Epuron provided me with in 2019 there are 23 turbines in my photos. I have been advised by Epuron by letter that only 1 turbine will be visible (the fine print states that the montage can never be accurate) With these turbines being 220m high on top of a ridgeline, my residence is 4.1km I have no doubt that I am being lied to, I have had very little to no contact from Epuron regarding this project and will have the following impacts.
Health Impacts - This project will have significant impacts on me and my family’s health with the constant dust and noise from construction to many years of operation. Unsealed roads, concrete plants, rock crushing plants, and the constant plant and machinery movements.
Visual Amenity - it will decrease my property value significantly with the project being built so close to my residence, and how will I sell as NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE NEAR A WINDFARM! Once these unsightly industrial turbines are built, working or not they will never be removed. Who will compensate me when I cannot live here anymore because of the unbearable noise and unsightly visual amenity ?
Desecration of Wildlife – Muscle Creek has the most amazing bird life, just sitting on my veranda you can see at least 10 different bird varieties at any time. On occasions we have pelicans and swans drop in, not the mention the beautiful wedge tail eagles that habitat the area, these birds will be driven away by the annoying sound or killed by the turbine blades.
Increased Fire Danger – Muscle Creek has 1 road in and the same road out, we have been through one of the most severe droughts that this country has seen, I am extremely concerned that if we are subjected to a bush fire there will be no assistance from aircrafts due to the wind farm. It is no doubt that Wind Turbines are an increased fire hazard in a rural area.
Increased Heavy Vehicles – The EIS states that Hebden Rd which is off the New England Hwy will be used for access, during any day of the week these roads are at capacity with bumper-to-bumper traffic heading to and from the area daily. Not to mention school busses travelling on these already overpopulated roads which is putting our kids’ lives in danger.

I do not trust or believe anything of the information that Epuron have provided me with. The community meetings are always planned at inconvenient times for working families and are at McCully’s Gap almost 40 minutes from Muscle Creek the most populated area for residences and the proposed project area.
I feel cheated and taken advantage of, from these corporate bullies that are coming into my area to destroy what we have worked hard to achieve. I feel I have no rights to protect my family, my residence, my neighbors, and where we live. If this project is approved property acquisitions should be made. I am not against renewable energy I believe this area is far too populated for a Wind Farm to be built so close to so many families.
kate Robertson
Object
Muscle Creek , Western Australia
Message
Objection to the Bowmans Creek wind farm for the visual and lifestyle amenities to the Muswellbrook rural area.
I would like to take this chance to give some insight into my life and environment of the Muswellbrook area.
Attending community meetings with my family, I believe that the information given does not reflect the actual size of not only the wind turbine but the oversize of the development in an area of Muswellbrook. This area has for many years been affected by open cut mining, in stating this I think the Muswellbrook area has suffered enough with infrastructure projects. And now it is time for our environment to rebuild itself for our future generations.
The proposed area of the wind farm is covered in mature trees, native vegetation and farming land, which is home to a large variety of animal species, sugar glider, Wedge tail eagles and several species of micro bat and fruit bats and the koala to name a few. This proposed wind farm should be built where there are already no trees and native vegetation. Maybe already disturb areas from mining (revegetation areas of mine sites) not destroying this wildlife habitat. It is not only the clearing of land for construction of wind turbines, but the constructions of access roads, sub stations etc which would cause the destruction of vast areas of native vegetation and mature trees.

I moved to the Muswellbrook area being 816 Muscle Creek Rd Muscle Creek in Feb of 2019 to help with being diagnosed with depression, I live on our family property and work at the local retail shopping centre and help to manage our family cattle property. This was made easy for my mental health and for the love of animals and quite surroundings of the rural open areas. I feed our cattle herd every morning between 5.30am and 6.00 am and use that time in the paddocks and around our cattle for breathing and mind exercises given by my doctor to help start the day with reduced stress and anxiety
I believe that if the wind farm development is approved and goes ahead this will again severely affect my Mental health issues. One being the constant noise of construction then the operation of the wind farm, shadow flicker and blade noise and maintenance duties required.
Please review this development keeping in mind that there are other people like me who need and enjoy the current atmosphere this area has to offer and where we choose to live without disturbance from these turbines.
I strongly believe that this is the wrong location for these types of structures, they should be put well away from homes and people so that there is less stress on peoples lives and the Wind Farm Companies should have to buy the land for wind turbines away from people just like the mines do.
If this development goes ahead our family will be forced to move home again, causing enormous stress and anxiety which we do not need in our lives and is avoidable if there were not so many greedy people just thinking of themselves and the money they may get. Money is not everything !!
Name Withheld
Object
KURRI KURRI , New South Wales
Message
I would like to make an objection to the proposed Bowmans Creek Wind Farm
Application SSD-103-15
I do not live in the proposed area, but I often visit and stay for several days and nights with my daughter and son in law and young grandson, on their beautiful well-maintained tree studded acreage at Muscle Creek.
It is a beautiful tranquil place welcoming quiet and peaceful with the sounds of nature – that I love many different varieties of birds calling, flying around foraging for food, Kookaburras, Magpies, Parrots, Finches, Jenny & Blue Wrens, Eagles, Hawkes, Owls and crows to name a few wild ducks and other water birds swimming on their huge dam. Kangaroos, Echidnas, Flying Foxes, and Possums come down for a drink, cows calling their calves horses neighing, chooks cackling when they their eggs maybe a dog barking and the occasional sound of friendly neighbours driving past on the narrow bitumroad or their tractors or quads in the neighbouring paddocks with their dogs shifting cattle to one property to another.
We can sit on the wrap around verandah, for breakfast lunch or afternoon drinks and nibbles or under a tree of one of the many trees it is so peaceful enjoyable and relaxing, a beautiful old country home.
A few years ago they purchased this beautiful property after living in town in the hope for a better lifestyle for themselves and their young family as did several other new property owners in the area, there are others that are well established living on their properties that their families have owned for generations.
But how wrong and unfair is it for these local property-owners to have to deal with this proposal of having up to 60 monstrous unsightly wind turbines many in full sight right in their backyard, so to speak. They did not ask for, nor sign up for, nor expected their lives and privacy to be disrupted and turned upside down by this project that they DO NOT WANT!
Fearing future devaluations on their properties because NOONE WANTS TO LIVE NEAR AN UNSIGHTLY WIND FARM.
Adverse Effects on People – I have been reading articles drom different sources on the adverse health effects from Industrial Wind Turbines. Several state that the same effects suffered by people who live or work in close proximity to them, one source from the college of Family Physicians Canada Roy D Jeffery MD FCPPAnd Brett Horner CMA say that family physicians can expect to see increasing numbers of rural patients reporting adverse effects from exposure to Wind Turbines. Patients experienced symptoms that include; decreased quality of life, annoyance, stress, sleep disturbance, headache, anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue, tinnitus (increased ringing in the ears) dizziness, vertigo, nausea, heat palpitations, impatience, visual blurring, cognitive disfunction and panic episodes. Some have felt anger, grief, and a sense of injustice
Suggested causes of symptoms include a combination of wind turbine noise infrasound, dirty electricity ground current and shadow flicker. Family Physicians should be aware that patients reporting adverse from Industrial Wind Turbines may experience symptoms that are intense and pervasive and feel victimised by lack of care and understanding.
With these very real adverse effects on families mental and physical health be acknowledged or compensated.
Adverse Effects on Animals – Wind Turbines spinning blades are an real threat to protcted flying foxes, Raptors, Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Owls, and many other bird species like ducks geese swans ibis and cranes the risk of collision injury and death not only threatens individual birds but augments existing threats to their populations.
The adverse effects on grazing animals, high ground currents from stray voltage have been measured near multiple wind facilities in Palm Springs and Campo California. The latter has measured to ground current at 1000 times that of normal. Cattle have been videoed dancing or lifting their hooves repeating after being continuously shocked by electric voltage on the ground. Other places reported a spike in birth defects, low rates of pregnancy, reduced milk production, not thriving in body condition, lack of sleep in their herds.
Chickens laying shell-less eggs or eggs without yolks. Cattle horses sheep goats miscarry, or babies dies with hours of birth. Domestic dogs have been known to not come outside when the blades are spinning.
Adverse effects on the Environment - Oil leaks can pollute sol and waterways each wind turbine can carry up to 227 litres of oil that is recommended to be changed every 2 years.
Wind Turbine power generation is intermittent and must be backed up by coal powered energy – THEY CANNOT OPERATE WITH THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS !
Wind Turbines are known to catch fire due to electrical or mechanical faults – convertor or capacitor cabinet transformers or braking systems and cause grass and bush fires that can be devastating to farm land, farm and domestic animals and housing, sheds and other infrastructure and native flora and fauna.
Adverse Costs – Considering the huge cost of materials in manufacturing wind turbines, the enormous amount of coal / fossil fuel energy is needed to mould and make all the components, the enormous amount of concrete foundations needed, cables, thousands of litres of oil and additional infrastructure, labour and industrial machinery to transport and erect the turbines and the effects of all this resulting in pollution.
They are not environmentally friendly !
They cannot run and produce power on their own !
They still require fossil fuel !
The phenomenal cost to remove them from the environment when they break down or reach the end of life!
They are not recyclable !
All these negative points surely outweigh their supposed value !
Name Withheld
Object
Muscle Creek , New South Wales
Message
I live in Muscle Creek on a small acreage which will be affected by the proposed Bowman’s Creek Windfarm because:

• Are you serious? This area is beautiful, go find another location for your wind farm where there is less environmental, visual & community impact.
• Bird life – the bird life in my home area is abundant, these wind turbines will impact on their habitat.
• Community – our once local community is now divided because of the secret deals with property use & sponsorship, the social licence is disjointed!
• Dust – in dry times these things will stir up ground vegetation & create dust issues.
• End of life – who is going to dispose of the twisted metal on the mountain top, will it be just like the used coal voids and be someone else’s problem?
• Financial ‘bang for buck’, at the end of construction there is only ongoing employment of 15 people, this does not add up to me!
• Ground disturbance from the turbine blowing away will create dust into the environment.
• Hilltops are made for trees and not for ugly wind turbines that impact our visual presence.
• Increased movement of vehicles using these minor roads increase chance of any accident as roads are not built for volume of traffic.
• Jobs are very limited and most likely will go to people from outside this region with limited benefits to local people.
• Koala’s live in the bush – we do not need to destroy a great Aussie icons home to build an ugly 220-meter-high wind turbine!
• Local benefits for community are not beneficial enough with the local council also not wanting these wind turbines in their Shire!
• Maintenance works on these wind turbines creates increased vehicle activity which creates more risk of an accident on our local minor roads.
• Natural beauty of the mountain ridge is destroyed forever once you start carving in roadways & infrastructure sites.
• Open & transparent information – who can local people trust regarding the ongoing impact on these wind turbines?
• Property value – no doubt my house & land valuation will go down as people will be cautious of buying with over 10 wind turbines in the immediate area.
• Question the community input – initial spool was for financial input for locals who will be affected but just out of the recognised buffer. Where is that now?
• Risk of bushfire, one defective electrical fault and we have a bushfire on our hands which is risk to property & people safety.
• Silence – the sound of silence we have now will be gone forever if these wind turbines are constructed & the silent effect on people health is to be considered.
• Transparency – is it really clear on what the effects these wind turbines have on our health?
• U do not understand because you do not live here! The effect already on a once close community is already in play with friendships broken over secret deals.
• Visual impact – I now drive home to a peaceful scenic view of mountain ridges & now I will have a view of ten 200 metre wind turbines at my doorstep.
• Wildlife – the impact of the existing wildlife will be devasting, do not drive away nature with the silent impact of these noisy wind turbines!
• Y - a wind turbine? Go out into the desert where no one lives and build a solar farm please where there is less impact on people & the environment.
• Zero carbon emissions you say. Look at all the carbon burned to manufacture, transport, construct & operate these wind turbines!
• X is the X factor is to play it safe and not approve this development. Go solar, go gas, go tidal, go hydro – go away with your wind turbines please!
meg robertson
Object
Muscle Creek , New South Wales
Message
Please see attached objection
Attachments
Alan Chick
Object
Wamberal , New South Wales
Message
I am submitting an objection to the Bowmans Creek Wind Farm.
I visit my daughter’s cattle property at Muscle Creek regularly and are mesmerised by the beauty of the tree lined mountains, the array of birds, the creeks, at night there are thousands of stars that are not visible at our home in Wamberal and I spend numerous hours peering at them in wonder, the silence is a great way of passing the day listening to the many bird calls. Its great therapy and relaxation and I just love to visit at every opportunity.
Although there are mines in close proximity, there is no way of telling when you are visiting their property as they are not in view and rarely can they be heard. If you hadn’t passed the mines on your drive to Muscle Creek you would not be aware that they are there.
The location of the turbines, approx. 19 turbines will be visible from the property we visit, some of these will be within 2km of the home and they will be on top of the highest ridgeline and then 220m above that. We estimate approx. ½ km higher than the house. It will be as if they are watching over us and the noise will have to travel down the valley, bouncing off the granite hills. In the mornings there will be flicker on the house as the sun rises. All of this is not what we need to contribute to the anxiety and depression suffered by members of the family that reside at the property.
I am also concerned that my daughter and her family will be disadvantaged financially if this development is approved, and/or if the turbines near their property are not relocated. This is a very unique area in Muswellbrook Shire and for them to have to relocate it will be at a much larger expense to find a like property away from the Wind Farm.
I am also concerned for the future of my grandchildren and their employment in the area, they need to have a home within the locality of their workplace and one which can accommodate the needs of cattle and horses.
Name Withheld
Object
Muswellbrook , New South Wales
Message
Objection to Bowmans Creek Wind Farm Application No. SSD 10315
This project should be rejected as there will be impact on people living right next door to this development. I live 3.1 kilometers from this huge proposed windfarm development, with other neighbours and family living closer to the development.
I own three different lots in the Muscle Creek/Beggary Creek area. One property that is 2 kilometres away (23 lots - 34, 142-145 DP752444) Lot 2 DP1042218). we thought that we would have correspondence about this development as we are under three kms for this one property. As I write we still have received no direct communication. We have only had one display gathering at Muscle Creek.
My husband's ancestors have lived and helped establish and develop this area through their farming of beef cattle. I have lived here for over 35 years. It is a lovely area quiet, free from health issues that could possibly affect our families health is this development goes ahead.
We have a lovely hilly area for our beef farm and raise our children. Now our children are having their own children and this wind farm will affect their future as well as our future now with the uncertainty of health issues from noise that the wind turbines generate, as well as property prices dropping.
The Noise, the eyesore of our country being marred by these huge wind turbines, that generate a fraction of the electricity that is generated by the nearby power stations. The area has already been torn up by the coal mines in the area. This mining will not stop for another 50 years, so the power stations, if maintained properly, will generate much more electricity, so that other sustainable power sources can be developed. They do not need to be dumped only a few kilometres from family homes and properties.
The damage to wildlife and birds is untold. Nature will not be able to exist anywhere near these turbines. If they are not maintained that will be another issue.
Chances of fire from this development. We have only just come out of a long drought and bushfire was a huge concern, this development adds to these sorts of problems. Any sparks or things braking on the wind turbines would be a risk to our community.
Property Prices will be affected by huge turbines appearing on the horizon and generating noise and associated problems they will cause.
Attachments
Ian Parker
Object
Terrigal , New South Wales
Message
I have friends who own a small farming property in the Bowman’s Creek region. I am appalled at the thought of these monstrous turbines being erected in such a beautiful part of NSW. I lived for many years in Tamworth and traveled frequently through the Muswellbrook/Hunter Valley area. The visual and noise impact of the proposed wind farm will make the nearby areas unliveable and will severely reduce the property values in the area. I also strongly object to the very concept of wind turbines because of the amount of steel and concrete involved in construction and the amount of land clearing needed to accommodate the “farm”. I have had a close visit to a wind farm in Albany WA. The noise was not something you could live near.
Name Withheld
Object
Hebden , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project for the significant impacts which are outlined in the attached submission.
Attachments
Anne Tyler
Object
BATEAU BAY , New South Wales
Message
We love visiting our family at Muscle Creek, it is a beautiful peaceful, mountainous place where we can escape the busyness of the Central Coast and spend quality time enjoying the scenery, cattle, horses, and the wildlife present in and around their property
We would hate to see the picturesque views interrupted by 19 + of these enormous turbines, decimated by the removal of a large number of trees, the noise associated will ruin the silence and my family will have to relocate which is grossly unfair for them and for those that visit to enjoy the tranquillity of the valley. Although there are mines in close proximity you are unaware of this once you drive into Muscle Creek and all the way to the end of this no through road. You have to see it for yourself to realise its uniqueness.
Please consider the families that have chosen to live and work here in this tranquil place and not just the greedy ones thinking only of themselves and their bank accounts, with no consideration to their community.
Name Withheld
Object
WENTWORTH POINT , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project for the following reasons:
1. Developmental impacts
The construction and use of the wind farm will unnecessarily destroy productive agricultural land, at a time when food security is vital. The impact of 80km of access track on the surrounding farmland cannot be minimised. Clearing this amount of vegetation will increase the risk for severe erosion in the area, creating a safety risk for residents, their stock and their livelihoods in the process. The further work necessary to develop an underground section of 330kV transmission line will severely impact Hebden Road.
2. Visual Impacts
Table 9-42 at page 234 of the 02 APP H Visual Assessment Report summarises the performance objectives. It indicates that turbines 9, 10, 60 and 61 need to be removed and that turbine 8 should be relocated in order to fulfil the performance objectives. As it stands, the project in its current form cannot appropriately fulfil the performance objectives and should not proceed without significant modification.
3. Economic Impact
The 09 APP O Economics Assessment states at page 3 that ‘While there will be a minor loss of agricultural activity to the region, this is a private economic decision made by the landholders for which they are compensated.’ This is not correct. The decision has not been made as a private economic decision by each landholder – it has been imposed on them by the project. Should particular landholders decide not to participate in hosting a turbine and obtaining rental income, there will be no economic compensation but rather economic impact.

4. Land Zoning
The project does not comply with the Muswellbrook Local Environmental Plan 2009 objectives of RU1 Primary Production.

5. Traffic Impacts
The data obtained for the traffic profile of Hebden Road is now more than 3 years old (obtained in December 2017) (page 13). This cannot be said to provide an accurate traffic profile and so will form an inaccurate basis for the traffic and transport assessment. There will be at least a 75% increase in traffic. This is unsustainable and will create huge issues for residents in accessing their properties.
Name Withheld
Object
KENTHURST , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project due to the visual impacts of the wind turbines.
There are only 4 rural dwellings in the project which will not experience some kind of visual impairment due to the turbines. This means that the turbines will comprise a major element in the landscape in contravention of the objectives of the project. The project must seek neighbour agreement for implementation of some of the turbines. This is not guaranteed and as such it is not likely that the project can succeed in its present form. Table 9-42 at page 234 of the 02 APP H Visual Assessment Report summarises the performance objectives. It indicates that turbines 9, 10, 60 and 61 need to be removed and that turbine 8 should be relocated in order to fulfil the performance objectives. These findings from the project's own reports indicate that there will be a severe impact on residents should the project proceed as planned.
Name Withheld
Object
HEBDEN , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project on the basis that the traffic impacts have not been adequately assessed.

The data obtained for the traffic profile of Hebden Road is now more than 3 years old (obtained in December 2017) (page 13). This cannot be said to provide an accurate traffic profile and so will form an inaccurate basis for the traffic and transport assessment.

Assuming that the traffic data obtained in the 05 APP K Traffic and Transport Assessment is acceptable, Hebden Road South has been assessed at a total peak of 371 vehicles (Figure 2.4.3, page 13). During the construction period, the 05 APP K Traffic and Transport Assessment has assessed that there will be about 141 daily one way traffic movements, of which almost half will be heavy vehicles (page 25). When considered as two-way trips, the total traffic movements (282) will increase by 75%.

It was further identified in the 05 APP K Traffic and Transport Assessment that ‘Crashes mostly occurred in close proximity to the New England Highway / Hebden Road and Hebden Road / Scrumlo Road intersections’ (page 15). The project has not identified how it will maintain and manage the infrastructure in order to cope with a 75% traffic increase, or any reasonable steps to mitigate crash risk at the New England Highway/Hebden Road and Hebden Road/Scrumlo Road intersections.

Considering the data set out in pages 30 and 31 of the 05 APP K Traffic and Transport Assessment, it is not clear that the project has been able to satisfactorily measure the intersection performance at the New England Highway/Hebden Road intersection right turn. The intersection performance results in Table 4-3 and Table 4-4 were ‘not considered to reasonably reflect the performance of the intersection’ (page 31). As such, it cannot be said with confidence that ‘the intersection is not detrimentally impacted by the addition of project construction traffic… and therefore would not require any upgrades’ (page 31), as the intersection has not been adequately measured.
Name Withheld
Object
HEBDEN , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project on the grounds that the substations will have an unacceptable impact on the surrounding area. The Visual Assessment report shows that there will be a significant impact on the surrounding land, specifically in relation to land clearing, loss of livestock feed and space, noise, increased road traffic, dust and increased air pollution

The project is not necessary. The turbines are an inefficient way of producing energy in comparison to other renewables and are an unreliable source of energy. The use of the Redbank power station as a biomass energy supplier negates the need to develop another source of energy in the Hunter Valley and provides more permanent jobs. The recent approval of the Illawarra Hydrogen power station will provide the necessary replacement energy for the closure of the Liddell power station.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-10315
EPBC ID Number
EPBC 2020/8631
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Electricity Generation - Wind
Local Government Areas
Singleton Shire
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
IPC-N

Contact Planner

Name
Elisha Dunn