Junction Rivers Wind Farm (formerly Burrawong Wind Farm)

Totally against wind farms, damage they do to the environment, affect normal farm practices,
Biggest concern is the unknown effect on the environment when they are passed their use by date and have to be disposed of.

To Whom it May Concern,

I write to you to vehemently object to the Junction Rivers Wind Farm project, a project that if it goes ahead, will see a windfarm established at the township of Kyalite.

My fiancé is Ryan Hodgson, his parents, Lennie and Kellie Hodgson are the owners of Gracedale Acreage, a 4000-hectare agricultural cropping property.

The construction of a windfarm so close to the property, 5.5km from the family home and 50m from cropping paddocks will have a severe negative impact on the future Gracedale Acerage, in particular cropping practices. This will have a profoundly negative impact on Ryan’s family’s livelihood and viability for Ryan or one of his siblings take over the farm when the time comes. It might completely deny us the opportunity to return to the farm to raise our family.

What I find most alarming is Windlab’s inability to answer and consequently address concerns raised and their inability to identify what effects their proposed development is likely to have on the Hodgson family business, health and livelihood prior to entering any negotiations designed to gain support.

Please, we urge you not to allow the Junction Rivers Wind Farm project to proceed.

Kind regards
Abigail Blaikie

My concerns about the Production of the Junction Rivers Wind farm as a Diesel Mechanic/ Harvest Contractor who frequents the area are as follows:
loss of Income from multiple farms in the affected area which i Service Regularly. Once the Fire Hazard of these wind farms is recognized It will be incredibly difficult to insure for the Harvest season. this will result in Losing one of our largest customers which contribute ~$75,000 -$100,000 to our business annually. Similarly, income generated by neighboring farms will diminish rapidly as farming operations decrease, Resulting in less Equipment operations, serving, breakdowns etc.
We also have the luxury of spending a lot of time in the area Camping and enjoying the bush and river land very close to the township of Kyalite. I Personally spend every easter at a farm called Beverly, whilst i have only been camping there for about 6 years, there are members of the Trip who have been attending for over 30 years! My concern is that the Noise and environmental impacts of the wind Farm will render the area uninhabitable, leaving the town to shrivel away!
The Kyalite region is Rich and thriving with the Agricultural Industry. The wind farm will be a fatal blow to the community and can not be allowed to continue.

Concerns as to what happens to these turbines when we find out they are not beneficial in 10/20 years time.

Concerns about the divide these projects course within the communities.

Concerns about the amount of funds used to compensate property holders and how these projects can be viable.

Please find the attached documents that is not in support of the proposed wind farm

My name is Luke Ayling, CEO of Growers Services which is a local supplier of farm machinery to the agricultural industry in this region.

We appreciate the potential benefits of renewable energy projects such as the proposed Junction Rivers Wind Farm, particularly in contributing to sustainable energy solutions. However, we would like to express a few concerns regarding the potential impact on farming land and agriculture in the region.

Preservation of Agricultural Land: It is crucial that the installation and operation of the wind farm do not constrain the ability to farm prime agricultural land. The region's farming activities are a cornerstone of the local economy, and any significant reduction in arable land could have lasting consequences.

Minimizing Disruptions: We recommend that careful planning and design be employed to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing farming activities. This includes considerations for access routes, construction times, and the placement of turbines in a way that does not interfere with farming operations.

Consultation with Farmers: Active engagement with local farmers is essential. Their input on the placement of infrastructure and mitigation of any potential impacts on crop production or livestock management should be sought and integrated into the planning process.

In conclusion, while we do not object to the Junction Rivers Wind Farm proposal, we strongly advocate for measures that protect and support the agricultural viability of the region. We believe that with careful planning and collaboration, it is possible to achieve a balance between renewable energy development and the preservation of farming activities.

This project will cause widespread environmental destruction. It will cause immense damage to native fauna within the project boundary by creating a highly hostile environment via groaning noise, low frequency infrasound, blade strike and shadow flicker. The bulldozing of native flora and excavating of earth for 1200 tonnes of concrete for each turbine base that can never be removed amounts to environmental vandalism.

The developer has not addressed the danger to the environment and community of Bisphenol A (BPA), which consistently blows from turbine blades and is cast far and wide by the wind across the environment, waterways, agricultural land and local communities. This is a potentially major issue for community and environmental health that is carefully avoided by this developer and all wind factory developers.

There is no plan to recycle the turbine blades (or any other component) as the blades cannot be recycled, the developer appears to have no interest in doing so and has made no commitment whatsoever. In fact the ultimate liability for decommissioning the giant turbines falls onto the land hosts. At the current market rate for large turbines (~$40k/year/turbine), and the current estimate of $600k per turbine to commission, it is likely the land hosts will have to save 75% of their annual payments to enable them to afford the removal of the zombie turbines in 20 years time.

More recent wind factory developers have turbines fitted with cameras that have a 10km radius. This means that surrounding land owners are set to have their activities spied upon which amounts to a willful invasion of privacy by developers.

A precedent has recently been set in Victoria with the State Government exempting Victorian wind farms from the fire services levy. This may be adopted by the NSW government. Aerial fire fighting is too dangerous in and around wind farms for several kilometers regardless of stationary blades or their position, given that they are giant obstacles that can be hidden from view by bushfire smoke. This means that landowners in and around wind farms such as Junction Rivers will have no access to aerial support and may have to risk their lives by ground based fire fighting that would have been previously done by air. This is not equitable or fair, and putting lives and property at risk should not be tolerated.

Another issue that has not been addressed is how much power will this wind factory draw from the grid when there is no wind. The current understanding is that wind turbine generators (WTGs) require power to keep oil warm and the turbine functioning during calm conditions. This issue needs to quantified and addressed by the developer.

The cumulative impacts are simply too great for this district, and most other districts, and there will be few long term jobs. As with most wind factories, this project will only provide 2 days a week of power, which amounts to all pain, little gain. The combined loss of agricultural land, environmental damage, community damage and greatly increased fire risk means this project cannot be justified.

I strongly object due to the following reasons.
- the risk of starting fires
- noise pollution
- the lasting effects of sound vibrations can have on native animals such as eagles, bees, kangaroos, emus etc. also the effects on domestic animals and livestock. And most importantly people.
- potential changes to the environment
- destruction of the natural beauty of the land

I object to the project because of the determent it will have to our land
- Our Agronomist is warning us that if it goes ahead our chemical bill increase dramatically
- The condition of our land will deteriorate and dry out considerable and we are already suffering through the el nino weather conditions and drought
- Am extremely worried about where the transition lines are going to be placed.
- The effect to our livestock and livelihood
- The potential for fires - The local brigades do not have resources that would be able to fight a 300m in the air fire. With the area so dry it would be catastrophic. It would spread for kilometres before anyone could reach it.
- The cost to insure our properties and crops for fire risk will be enormous or Un-insurable
- The fans will drive away all the native fauna and flora. The bees will not pollinate the area which will also affect the horticultural industry in the area. The rare species of birds and flora may become extinct if this goes ahead.
- The farmers are already struggling in the area; this would just increase the stress levels and depression on our already struggling families
- It will change the beautiful look of our region and the tranquillity of it. Why would tourists stop at our region anymore with the sound and the sight of the wind farm. - Tourism will become less which will make the small-town businesses suffer.
Making the rich richer without a thought to anyone else or the environment.

The large-scale development of RE projects in our area will displace families, leading to the loss of community cohesion and the disruption of local life. Agriculture is essential to Australia's economy, contributing billions to GDP each year. The loss of farmland to renewable energy projects like wind turbines and solar farms is a direct threat to this vital sector. The government is prioritizing energy over agriculture, violating the Paris Agreement's commitment to food security. The critically endangered Australasian Bittern, which relies on our wetlands, is losing its habitat to these industrial developments. This is just one example.

Agriculture is the lifeblood of our community and a significant contributor to Australia's GDP, accounting for over 2.5% of the nation's total economic output. The destruction of farmland for renewable energy projects like wind turbines and solar farms is a direct threat to this critical sector. By prioritizing energy production over agriculture, the government is undermining the very foundation of our economy. The endangered Plains-wanderer, which relies on our grasslands, is facing extinction as these habitats are destroyed.

My comments are as per the attached letter signed by myself.

Due to farming land being acquired for this project.

As a rate payer in the Balranald shire ( 124 and 122 Ballendella street Balranald) I am against this project.One of the main reason for my objection is the devaluation of prime agricultural land in the area.These towers could be placed north west of Balranald in mallee country that is low production grazing country.There are hundreds of thousands of hectares of cheap farming country by comparison to the country that is being considered.The preposed area is some of the best high protien wheat growing country in the area.It is also some of the best salt bush,and natural grassland grazing country in NSW.The area north west of Balranald is only suitable for goats.As a pilot of 25 years in the area there is no difference in winds between the two areas.The Transmission line runs parallel to the north west country so that is not a problem.I would like to see the studies conducted into the wild life and bird diversity in the area being considered as I believe this area has been greatly improved over the last 50 years of farming.The improvement in water availability improved pasture and grasslands etc.The mallee country to the north west is not much different now from the days of early settlement.
Yours Sincerely
David Coates

I OBJECT to Windlab’s horrible plan for Junction Rivers Wind Electricity Generating Works with 96 ugly, destructive, short-term Turbines + BESS - that only work part-time & create a massive pile of toxic waste that is ruining Australia.

Junction Rivers Wind Electricity Generating Works + BESS is a totally objectional, parasitic, Environmentally Destructive, life threatening Fire Risk that is useless, weather dependent & a toxic contamination disaster - against the best interests of Australia.

Ugly Industrialised Wind Electricity Generating Works & Battery Energy Storage hazards will NEVER provide reliable, affordable Australian power which is an essential service for the people of NSW.
Depending on the weather means they are flaky, a very silly idea & DON’T WORK most of the time.
This toxic contaminating plan DOES NOT belong on essential, irreplaceable Food growing land at all as irreversible environmental harm will inevitably occur & our children’s Energy Security & Food Security future will be ruined forever

Junction Rivers Wind Electricity Generating Works + BESS has no social licence as it is a horrible, dangerous, extremely toxic, unhealthy & totally useless plan that is a complete waste of public money as it will never provide secure, reliable, affordable power.

Windlab’s Wind & BESS disaster is part of the most obscene, non-sensical, ruinable plans for Australia, destroying our precious biodiversity & ecology, contaminating our essential Agricultural land & water supplies & seriously harming Australian people & our children’s future forever with toxic junk & energy deprivation.

My main objections to this massive development are as follows.
1. The Paris Agreement states that Agricultural Land is to be protected from the type of developments proposed. That is utilising grazing but more importantly arable land to establish Industrial Complexes.
Only 4 per cent to 6 per cent of Australia's land mass is arable.
2. Much of the development money is from a Chinese Company connected to The Chinese Communist Party and therefore The Chinese Governnment. Australia has already witnessed how China treats other nations who question their policies. To have The P. R. C. Construct power systems for Australia seems ludicrous. Particularly as these systems do not provide reliable power and at the same time make China stronger and weaken Australia.
3. The hoped for introduction of AUKUS must surely point out the need for a Nuclear Power Industry particularly for South Australia.
4. When both the Federal and State Governments wake up to the fact that we are living in The Nuclear Age one would hope that the unbridled spread of these unreliable tax payer subsidised operations providing unreliable power would be limited.
5. What agency when common sense prevails is going to remove these installations that are a blight on our wonderful Australian landscape and are making a few wealthy and the majority of Australians poorer in a number of ways.