Hills of Gold Wind Farm.

I am concerned that this wind farm is being situated in native forest area and has potential to disrupt already disappearing species. I do not think that the submission fully considers the effects of this development to the level of environmental protection required for endangered and threatened species, particularly when land that has already been cleared in other locations is available for a wind farm and native populations in these locations have already been affected. In my travels, I have noted the windfarm situated near Wellington and it appears to be viable and is situated in already cleared land and open country. Why aren't we emulating this model? As we have learnt from past environmental battles- we don't build dams in wilderness areas just because land is available, unused and cheap, but take the option of protecting the land and its flora and fauna, for future generations of people and its native flora and fauna. Of concern, also, is that whilst the report states that fauna should not be affected, for example, bats, what of the recent bushfires and movement of fauna during those times? A windfarm in the way of transit to safety is a huge impact on species viability and I do not think that enough consideration of this cyclic phenomenon has been given.

Additionally, I am concerned that because the windfarm is to be situated on a ridge, it has potential issues relating to the water table and its effect on river flow in times of drought and deluge. Given the precious nature of this resource, there does not appear to be sufficient evidence of impact and again, once impacted it cannot be restored. As well as the clearing for the turbines themselves, there is also the clearing for access roads and tracks. Each of these developments changes the water flow and water retention capacity of the area and its surrounds. We may create some energy from wind, but at the cost of a river system and farms supported by this sensitive water system. How much study into the impact on the Isis river and its system has been thoroughly done in the short timeframe for this report?

The Great Dividing range is iconic. To see there be any more development, of any sort, is a backward step in respect to protecting our environmental heritage. Instead, we should be looking to place renewable energy resources in areas that have already lost their natural identity, hence minimising our impact on the remaining natural environment that we have left.
I hope that this objection will be one of many calling for this project to be resituated to a more suitable site.

Renewable energy is much needed and will bring positive financial gains to the region.

As someone who has lived in Nundle on Crawney Road for the past 18 years I have observed multiple areas of clearfelling on the ridgeline to the east, on Jim Robinson's land. These areas have been only recently cleared. Already large areas of the plantation pine forest that lies east of the village of Nundle has also been clearfelled over the past few months. This is putting undue stress on an already fragile ecosystem, where the soil is poor and erosion is occurring. The foothills to the east of the village form a massive catchment area that provides the city of Tamworth, plus numerous other small towns, via Chaffey Dam, with its drinking water. Due to the drought we have endured for the last half decade, the native trees, wildlife and water systems are under massive amounts of stress.
We are not part of the New England Energy Zone so this area should be kept pristine to counterbalance all of the development that will take place in this region.
Nundle is a tourist village renowned for its natural beauty. It is popular with people from Sydney and Newcastle looking to escape industrialised environments.
My family's property is next door to where a number of proposed turbines will be situated. These massive structures will loom within 500 metres of our farmland, where we run sheep but are also in the process of rehabilitating areas of bushland.
The construction of the turbines will endanger everyone who uses the local roads. The narrow, winding road to Hanging Rock already has numerous logging trucks thundering up and down it. With its tight hairpins it will be very challenging to transport massive pieces of equipment up to the ridgeline. The local schoolbus travels up and down this road many times a day. Other school buses will be using the road into the village and having to share these roads with these trucks. My children travel daily on a bus to Quirindi and I am concerned about their safety, plus the safety of the other children on buses in the area.
The environment here is not suitable for massive turbines. it is a natural environment, already under stress, that needs to be protected, not destroyed. Construction of these turbines will affect the livelihood of many farmers and business owners in Nundle, who rely upon tourists wanting to visit this beautiful area. This development will greatly affect the value of my family's property, both in terms of farming productivity and resale value.
If the waterways here are compromised, Tamworth and multiple villages will be directly impacted. The soil is very poor up in the hills and is not suitable for any sort of development.
If this project goes ahead it will result in an environmental catastrophe. The project is very unpopular with Nundle locals, the people who will have to live with this eyesore looming over the landscape. This project will only enrich one family, the Robinsons, who have a history of environmental vandalism. Jim Robinson has been fined in the past for illegal landclearing and he has diverted two creeks close to his property, affecting waterways further down the hills. He has no regard for local wildlife and was seen by us, his neighbours, trying to run down wombats on his farm on a quadbike. He cut down trees used by the local wedge tail eagles to nest in. He is driven purely by greed, has threatened many of the locals, including us, and is entirely dismissive of the fact that this has completely divided a hitherto harmonious community.