Mod 1 - Increase in turbine height and project refinement

I wish to lodge an objection to the proposed development and in particular the placement of wind turbines numbered 1 to 14 and 16 and 19.
Because they must be sited in exposed places, these specific wind turbines will be highly visible and intrusive.Siting these particular turbines elsewhere in the project will avoid this aesthetic impact to the landscape.
My property faces directly towards the ridge line where these particular turbines will be placed. The intrinsic value of my property relies on the view of the Coppabella's from the front of the homestead. Siting these turbines on the ridgeline will seriously decrease the value of my property. Visitors to the property refer to the outlook as "a million dollar view"
Further whilst the company may have consulted with the landowners regarding placement of the turbines on their properties there was no wider community consultation until 5th October 2016.
I was unaware of the project until i received the flyer in the mail at the end of September 2017.
Earlier this year there was some local gossip about the possibility of a wind farm and I approached the Yass Shire Council in person.
I was advised that the council had no knowledge of such a project. However a media release (2/2/16) announced the approved of the project by NSW Department of planning and Environment . Clearly I was deliberately misled by the Yass Shire Council.
I am also concerned for the impact this will have on the wider Binalong community. People move to the area ,as we did, for a quiet country existence a rural retreat.
Wind turbines are man-made vertical steel structures with large rotating blades, and therefore visually have an impact on the local landscape, just like other structures, for example, large buildings, factories, power grid pylons, main roads, etc.
none of these would be acceptable in the Binalong community
Since wind turbines are tall and have rotating blades, they have the potential of attracting people's attention. Thus these particular turbines with their proposed increase in height will have a relatively large impact on both the landscape and distant horizon.
The aesthetic aspects of these particular turbines (numbers 1- 14 and 16 and 19) and the resulting changes to the visual landscape are significant and therefore they should be relocated to another site in the project.

In May this year the DPE appointed Nic carmody as the Independent Chairperson of the Community Consultative Committee however there was no community consultative process to determine the 7 community representatives on that committee nor was the community advised who these representatives were.
The proposed modification triples the vegetation clearing previously suggested negatively impacting on the local flora and fauna particularly kangaroos ,already in large numbers,forcing them on to the surrounding properties to the detriment of grazing and farming land.
An additional concern is potential interference with telecommunication facilities. Telecommunication reception is already poor in the Binalong area with frequent and prolonged outages to the Telstra network. Wind generators produce electric and magnetic fields which have the potential to compound this problem

I object to the modifications proposed particularly the 165% increase in clearing, Also the 14%increase in tower height and 36% increase in blade length

I am objecting to the massive increase in tree and vegetation destruction, blade length and tower height

i object as concern to the environmental impacts

i object for environmental issues

I appose the wind turbines for the following reasons:
*They devalue the land and its surroundings
*They cause huge issue in bush fires...water bombers can not fly near them
*Super plans and weed sprayers can not fly near them
*They are a scare on the landscape
*Stock suffer constant disturbances from not only the turbines but from the regular maintenance visits
*Lack of care when leaving and entering property (People with no idea of farm life!) ie...gates left open and stock getting muddle up or out
*Noise pollution
*There has been evidence submitted suggesting they are carcinogenic

I appose the wind turbines for the following reasons:
*They devalue the land and its surrounds
* Planes are unable to be used in the area for water bombing in bush fires, spraying weeds and supering
*They are a scare on the landscape
*Stock suffer disturbances from not only the turbines but the regular maintenance checks
*Maintenance carried out by people who have no rural knowledge and therefore do not behave appropriately when visiting. Gates left open. Stock chased. No Respect
*Noise pollution
*Evidence to suggest they are carcinogenic

I object strongly not only to the modification YVWF(SSD 6698 MOD 1), but how it was ever approved in the first place.The Copperbella hills are a beautiful, but fragile range of hills where any soil disturbance will eventually lead to compounding erosion. An increase of 160% to the amount of land to be cleared in this modification, is even more insane than the project been approved in the first place.

We object to the amended plan in two areas,
1. the need to increase the size of the area to be cleared
2. the size increase in the blades of the individual wind turbines.
The land clearing will increase significantly the amount of trees destroyed most of which belong to local tree species that are en-danged and increase the visual impact on the surrounding area.
Garryowen has over the last 15 years planted 75 to 100,000 trees in an effort to increase the habitat for local bird species as well as rehabilitate the land and make a contribution toward carbon absorption.
We are surprised the owner of the project is proposing to the NSW State Government a project amendment that will greatly increase the number of trees being destroyed.
The wind turbines blade increase will also significantly increase the visual impact.
There is also a carbon benefit issue that needs to be analysed if additional trees are to be removed.
The project is also now owned by a foreign entity which may lose interest if the change in subsidies currently foreshadowed by the Federal Government is implemented and results in a reduction of financial support for this project. This could result in a partially completed project which will never generate electricity but have a devastating visual impact on this significant range of mountains.

Hi Re Yass valley windfarm YVWF Mod 1(SSD 6698 Mod 1 )
As a landowner in Bookham I strongly oppose The instillation of wind turbines within the Bookham district. I am also alarmed at the modification requests. Larger blades, taller towers and an increase in the level of clearance of native trees and vegetation I purchased that block of ground with the hope of building a house in a rural area surrounded by the pristine natural landscape and native flora and fauna not to be overlooked by ugly👎🏿noisy ,towering wind turbines. With improvements to my land I would envisage that the property would increase in value not so if wind turbines are overlooking and in full view of every corner of my farm. I have lived in the north of Scotland where the once picturesque land scape is now dotted with unsightly, and often noisy wind turbines. I have spoken to farmers in Scotland where turbines have been placed and they have said their livestock production rates have fallen. This too is alarming as I run a small scale fat lamb production. It is hard enough to keep lambing percentages up now without the advent of another negative hurdle to rise above. No I do not want wind turbines pitched high above my property for me and everyone else to see. What happens if they catch on fire, their location is quite inaccessible. We live with the threats of fire in normal seasons turbines could pose an added risk. We have had several bad fires in the Bookham and surrounding districts in the past few years with heavy losses of land and livestock and we don't need added infrastructure that would place our lives at further risk . These turbines would be within a close proximity to my farm and I am concerned and hence opposed to their instillation
Please feel free to contact me via email or phone 0407 475 915

I wish to express my support for the proposed modification to the Yass Valley Wind Farm - SSD 6698 MOD 1.

This wind farm is significant for regional economic development and will benefit the wider community.

I would like to state however, that the modification must include a more equitable distribution of the community benefit fund. Instead of a per turbine calculation, the annual benefit fund should be calculated on the basis of MW output. This would provide a much fairer distribution to the community.

Thank you.

HRDC Inc. wishes to express its support for the proposed modification to the Yass Valley Wind Farm - SSD 6698 MOD 1.

The Harden Regional Development Corporation (HRDC Inc.) seeks to secure long term, sustainable opportunities for the region, and the Yass Valley Wind Farm (Coppabella Wind Farm) does just that. This wind farm is significant for regional economic development and will benefit the wider community.

However, HRDC Inc. proposes a further modification to that submitted.A more equitable calculation of the community benefit fund must be included.

With the reduced number of turbines, the community benefit fund will also be reduced. HRDC believes this must change.

Instead of a per turbine calculation, the annual benefit fund should be calculated on the basis MW output, and to match the original community contribution approval by the Dept of Planning & Environment.

This is seen as a more fair and equitable means of distribution to the community.

Thank you.

I object to the alterations made to the agreement I signed regarding the Yass Valley Wind Farm. (1) The increased area of natural vegetation to destroyed. (2) Due to the height & weight of each vane the roads will have to be very substantial and with the steep terrain of the sight , erosion is very possible. Because of these roads the outlook from my property worksite will be most unattractive.

I'd like to protest to the highest degree about the increased vegetation clearing that is proposed for the Coppabella Windfarm. I feel this increase in clearing totally changes the whole project. The land destruction being cleary visable and not a minimal disturbance as previously describe contributing to long term scaring of the environment for generations to come. Also noted the role that the extra destruction of vegetation will have on the habitat particularly the Superb Parot and the Bent Wing Bats that we know are in the area. The increase of the blade size and structure should also be noted as not being acceptable as this was not the case that was previously proposed and accepted by the Department of Planning. The visual implications to those in the area will be much greater and turbines will be seen from a much further distance. Extra noise from the large blades has never been discussed with anyone in the community, where is the data on this? Also the great unknown on combining the both fronts being grater vegetation clearance and larger blade size to changing the climate in the local area. I totally disagree with the amendments, I find the changes so dramatic that this may as well be classed as a new project and treated like one.Please note my objections and stop this distribution to our landscape and fauna.

I strongly protest to the severe changes proposed to the Coppabella Windarm. I live directly opposite where the turbines are going to be erected which are going to immensely affected my health, vision, glare, noise, wildlife especially the Superb Parot and property value. I've worked hard all my life, done nothing wrong and now you people want to destroy me life and place of residence with the massive visual changes you propose. Who cares about me, certainly not the wind company or you if you backflip on this and make more changes. It was bad enough before but this is just the end for us all.

I continue to object to the proposed wind farms in our area. They are unsightly and distribute enough noise to make life less pleasant, and will most certainly adversely affect our land value.
It is true some people will benefit if the windmills are located on their properties but as for the rest of us we will no benefit, this i feel it is an unjust development that will not only use taxpayers funs to subsidise overseas investors but will create a divided and unrest within the community between those who are being paid and those who are not. Why should people be make rich at the expense of others who have done nothing to deserve this.
It would be better for all that no one is paid and a more suitable area is sought for this project.

the turbine is too big and visually not suitable, creating too much noise and imposes stress to the livestock and residents.
Last but not least, it has unpredictable impact on the biodiversity and the vegetation to the farm lands around.

Concerned about environmental impacts.
Increase in land clearing
Decrease in agriculture productivity

I wish to provide some comment on the proposal which my family believes will destroy the rural outlook of this excellent farming community of NSW. Construction will impact roads, pastures and population adversely. Furthermore, water is a valuable farming resources, not to be squandered on construction of temporary monoliths. The construction of wind farms in rural areas is shortsighted, looking at short term power gains compared with long term requirements for food security.

Impact studies have been limited to select areas and have not addressed villages within line of sight or longer term impacts to farming communities.

The amounts proposed per turbine are so small they are a joke. A company investing $350-$300 million should be putting a minimum of $10-20,000 per turbine, per annum back in to the community, probably much more.

Environmentally, 25-30 years destruction of land will take double that to regenerate and, should this inappropriate project proceed, Goldwind should be liable for the ongoing regeneration until completed, even if it is several decades. Updating a clause every five years is totally insufficient to ensure real regeneration and Government concern for prime farming land. By the time the company finishes there will be multiple tracks and roads, weeds, scrub and degenerated pastures due to misuse.

Payments to landowners recognise the loss of income due to destruction of land through construction and operation of wind turbines.

The area selected is acknowledged to be difficult terrain. It is not suitable for this construction.

Approval seems to be given without exact definition of where roads will be constructed to effect installation. This gives the company too much leeway to cause damage without responsibility.

This approval does not preclude future expansion and damage through further development applications, it appears to be a 'foot in the door'.

They claim to be open and honest but all the local agreements are confidential, allowing the company to pay only what they can get away with. Furthermore, the company can indicate other landowners have agreements, so pressurise those who would prefer not to sign agreements. This is dishonest.

They claim openness with consultation but this is only what they have to do and the least they can say.

My family strongly objects to this project in any form. Windfarms should be limited to areas not suitable for farming production.

I object to the proposed modification at Yass valley Wind farm.

The proposed changes in turbine height and rotor diameter will increase the visual impact and noise impact of the wind farm on surrounding homes. This will translate into property devaluation for surrounding land owners.

Its another example of Wind farm developers using their initial application to get their foot in the door and then stealthily and steadily ratcheting up the specs of their proposal.

The modification should be rejected