Winterbourne Wind Farm

Bronwyn Koebel Objection to The Winterbourne Wind farm attachment.

please see the attachment

I think that this project needs to go ahead to support walcha as a town.

I object to this project in full.

I am worried about many aspects of this project.

I am worried about the impact of traffic on our small, rural roads that are not made for heavy vehicles or the quantity of traffic that we are to expect. I am worried about the impact this will have on cyclists, pedestrians, school buses, and general traffic. I think this will lead to dangerous situations and accidents.

I am worried about the impact it will have on our town with a workforce of 400 trying to fit into a town of 2000 people. This will put pressure on rental prices, health services, and social harmony.

I am worried about the impact on the wilderness areas that we visit regularly. I am worried about the impact it will have on animals such as the wedge-tail eagles that fly in high concentrations in this area. Turbines are a known killer of eagles, raptors, and other birds and we have a very special area in Walcha that we want to protect. I am worried about bushfires in the wilderness areas that won’t be able to be controlled with aerial water bombing because of the presence of wind turbines.

Please find submission attached.

KOEBEL HOLDINGS TOTALLY OBJECT TO THE WINTERBOURNE WIND FARM DUE TO THE REASONS STATED IN THE ATTACHMENT.

At last we are taking Climate action! We are a farming enterprise in the Walcha district running beef cattle & prime lambs. Australia must urgently transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and the Winterbourne Wind project is a wonderful way for our district to support this transition. Not only will this type of project bring economic benefits to our community by creating jobs, new business, bolstering existing businesses including food & hospitality, accommodation, heavy machinery and skilled labour, it will also bring an annual financial benefit to the community through a Community Benefit Fund. What an amazing opportunity for our town! As a farming enterprise, wind energy enables us to run our business simultaneously & cohesively with the wind farm and at the same time earn an extra income and actively fight climate change.
Australia has been far too conservative and near sighted when it comes to Climate Change... we need to get going. Here is a project that can make a difference.... lets go!

I am against this industrial site as it does not belong in valuable agricultural land. The following is only some of the issues with this development :
It is going to take three years of construction. That is 3yrs of road holdups which will impact on emergency vehicles, congestion on the roads that were not built for so many and sized vehicles, stopping people from getting to work, they will turn away tourists who will not want to be sharing the road with the trucks.
Our roads will be damaged which will increase our taxes and rates to repair them. These roads were not meant for such traffic and heavy trucks..
Where is all the water coming from. The statement from the company has gravely underestimated the amount of water needed as proven by the Voice of Walcha committee. Walcha ran out of water last drought, the McDonald River stopped flowing. Where will the water come from.
Why are they allowed to clear koala habitat. A farmer would end up in court if they behaved as these companies are allowed to do.
As we have seen today these turbines can burst into flame. Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is close. Imagine the carnage. Firefighting planes will not be allowed to fly near these turbines to fight the fires.
Major highways like New England and Oxley will be congested which will affect tourism and commerce and emergency vehicles.
I know I was greatly disadvantaged when the turbines were constructed near Glen Innes as I had holdups on the Moonbi Mountain which stopped me getting to work. These construction companies have no right to take over our roads.
Also how can these be called green energy when they are such a drain on natural resources, good farming country, our roads, killing flora and fauna, built overseas with mined resources, transported across the sea in diesel guzzling mega ships and transported on our roads using heavy vehicles. Not only that but they only have a short lifespan and are not recyclable

I object to this project and do not consent.

This Project has a high ecological impact.

Due to construction against the unique and beautiful Oxley Wild Rivers National park, part of the World Heritage Gondwana Rain Forests.
Concerns with this proximity relate to construction run-off directly impacting the Park and the Macleay Catchment and River itself. Diminished capacity to deploy aerial support to fight fires, Destruction of wildlife corridors into and out of the Park.

Hi I am Kimberley Cameron, Partner in a beef producing business at Walcha NSW, where the Winterbourne Wind Project (as well as many others) have been proposed. I am writing on behalf of our business to object to the project going ahead.
The main reasons for our objections include;
- That the wider community has not been made aware of the shape and scale of this project until recent community discussions and a forum, where the developer, declined to attend. The lack of consultation and engagement has been disappointing, and falls short of expectations a community should have of a developer.
- This project plans to have 119 x 6.2MW Turbines, has a footprint that reaches within 6km of the Walcha township, 2.5km from the Apsley Falls lookout point, and 3.5km from the Steep Drop Falls Trail. It is adjacent to the World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests Area, incorporating the Wild Rivers National Park. It is disheartening that a project this scale is so incredibly close to farming families residences and a beautiful national park and tourist destination.
- While only reportable audible for 1.5km (although after speaking to people who conduct this "noise research" I understand that results can be "chosen" to suit the developer)- We are concerned about the effect infrasound will have on people and our livestock's health as there are many reportable impacts of these but not enough scientific research yet to back it. I would have hoped before putting in a project this scale - we would have waited for such research to be conducted.
-during the development of this project local resources will be stretched for local businesses - eg gravel, earth moving, trucks, trades, labour, the ability for trucks to pick up and deliver our stock on time to feedlots due to "wind turbine traffic"- could impact our bottom line and animal welfare. The project will monopolize materials and resources while leaving our businesses waiting and at a loss of production.
- What will the development of this infrastructure cost the ratepayer? where will Vestas get the water they require for the project - will they drill bores and empty our aquifers? or will they truck it in - further delaying our traffic, impacting our roads etc. We understand that the amount of water required is 8500 Semi Truck loads for the winterbourne projects- compared to the water we use to water our cattle - it would be enough to water them for 80 years at our current capacity. We find the EIS document fails to outline where the water for the project will come from. Can the EIS please be amended to include this please.
- decommissioning and waste are also large concerns for us. There appears to be no bond in place for the removal of the turbines and recycling of materials has not been clearly outlined. where will the waste of the project be deposited when the project comes to an end. This is not clearly highlighted in the EIS, please amend this for the community.
- There has been lack of communication and transparency about the project by the developer. I have not seen community wide forums, in fact the developer did not attend the main forum put on by concerned members of the community. It appears they have not tried to be available to answer questions or they do not have clear answers to our questions. I would recommend that the project be halted at its current stage and the developer engage clearly and transparently about the project, as currently it appears the developer has done the bare minimum, which shows disrespect to our community and is very disappointing, considering the scale of the project and the impact it will have on us.
-We live in a proud community, what will the projects impact on housing and accommodation be? will rent be sky high? if we require workers to come to town to help with business - where and how will we accommodate them? let alone local race meets, weddings to name a few. the impacts of this project will be wide spread.
- The community and our businesses will likely absorb lots of negative aspects of this project, It is known that the project will generate $150 million annually, yet the community fund is only $0.5 million per year, and recently the developer has ceased any agreement that Neighbours would receive any monetary benefit from the inconvenience and negative impact of close proximity to the project. In some aspects I would recommend that neigbours / in fact neighbours neighbours be compensated for the inconvenience of the project - it seems silly it isn't based of " ruined view/ outlook" from residences or a kilometer value rather than where the boundary fence is. I know in some cases host landholders and direct neighbours residences are not as close to the turbines as other landholders eg neighbours nieghbours or close neighbours." We feel so disappointed that the developer hasn't considered fully the people and proximity of families to this project.
- Another major concern of ours is fire safety. We know from recent fire events that homes and pastures and livestock near the gorge were at large risk from fire and if it wasn't for Aireal services - homes and farms would not have been saved. What are the safeguards for this over the next 30-60 years of the project if it goes ahead. I would like to see what compensation the developer will provide if homes, families and livestock aren't so lucky in our next bushfire season. Not that lives can be compensated. It seems a poor choice of place for this development to go ahead, prime agricultural land and its proximity to the national park.

Please get back to us in regards to this submission, we would like to be updated into how the developer plans to proceed after the concerns have been raised by businesses and the community.
Kimberley Cameron (Englefield Cattle Co)

I strongly support the Winterbourne Wind Development in Walcha for the following reasons:
- Increase job security. Create an opportunity for the youth of Walcha to enter into apprenticeships/jobs where skills are taught as businesses will thrive from the extra income in town whilst development underway.
-Increase in developers spending their income in our town through accommodation, food, fuel, general service businesses.
- It allows farmers to have a steady and passive income in drought periods without having to rely on govt subsidies that the next generation will be paying off for years to come.
- The development needs to be approved as we need our lights to stay on and so do the rest of NSW. We have a commitment as a Country to reduce emissions and this will allow for successful International Relations with other countries to respect us and want to trade with us.
- Wind power is much safer than nuclear.
- Our roads will be better off as these large vehicles need roads that are large and safe.
- All the sporting clubs in town will benefit from the Community Fund - what a fantastic initiative to give back to the community! Imagine what else the fund could do for the community - new bike/walking paths, heated swimming pool, turf hockey court, netball courts, upgrade the indoor hockey court. New sheds for the rugby boys. Upgrade the soccer field amenities. The list is endless.
This project would be amazing for Walcha and I would really like to see it approved. This town has been brainwashed by the anti-wind group and the amount of misinformation and lies that they are printing has made a lot of uneducated individuals in this town frightened. No one is game to say they approve of the development as they get harassed and criticized by the anti wind individuals...they should be ashamed of what they are doing to this town. I can't wait to see the way this town will thrive during and after the development! I love Wind Turbines!

I strongly support the Winterbourne Wind Farm project and submission as exhibited by Vestas. This must go ahead for the future of our town and our country. We can no longer ignore the evidence of climate change and the significant effects it is having on our lives and farming enterprise as well as our planet. The future looks bleak indeed if we do not act now. We are proactive primary producers who invest in and support biodiversity, animal health and suitable water management. We have had a research partnership with UNE for many years and have adopted improved methods of sustainable grazing and land use practices. We have signed a contract with Vestas to host wind turbines on our farm and are proud and excited to be able to contribute to renewable energy production and to the NSW and Federal Government’s renewable energy targets. This will also provide a diversified income for our farm and allow us to better prepare and respond to inevitable future drought, storm, and fire events. This development will provide my husband and I the opportunity to better ensure succession plans we have established with our children can be achieved, personally this is very important to us as our farm has been in our family since 1863 and we plan for it to remain that way. The duration and magnitude of the most recent drought was our ultimate test, which is disheartening as reports published by the BOM and CSIRO not only indicate future drought events will become more frequent and intense, but they will also likely occur simultaneously with severe storms and bushfires.

With the retirement of Liddell and Eraring Power Stations in 2023 and 2025 respectively, it is vital that the NSW Government approve this project and support Winterbourne Wind Farm to proceed with this project as soon as possible. I particularly like the fact that the energy sector will be moving from an unsustainable system of fossil fuel generation to geographically dispersed renewable energy production therefore having a beneficial flow on effect on multiple regional areas.

The flow on effects of the Winterbourne Wind Farm will be significant for Walcha and The New England region. Winterbourne Wind Farm will deliver a much-needed economic boost to our community and region including more than $150 million directly and $160 million indirect in wages and profits wages during each year of construction.

A Community Benefit Fund will be managed by Walcha Council under a Voluntary Planning Agreement, including the allocation of $1 million following development approval and $750,000 annually thereafter once operational. What a wonderful opportunity for our town with good management from Council to reduce inequality in our community by providing increased educational opportunities through scholarships and sponsorships and support our youth to have a better future. Who knows we may be able attract Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Vets, sportspeople, and much needed tradespeople to Walcha with this fund. Walcha has an aging population with a low socioeconomic status and urgently requires another viable industry to save our town from dying and give our youth a future.

We and previous Fletcher generations have always been active and supportive members of the Walcha community and are passionate about the survival of Walcha for future generations.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide support for the Winterbourne Wind Farm.

Yours sincerely

Janice Fletcher

I did not build a house 2 years ago with the knowledge that we would be looking at 70 wind turbines from the northern view from our place, it is currently an unspoilt view with 2 houses in the distance is all you can see, with the view being spoilt who compensates me for devalue it will cause to my home , If this goes ahead my wife and myself and 2 children will be relocating from the area, the community already feels divided by what has already happened and is ruining what was a very supportive small country town,

I support the project as it is helping our wider community by providing renewable resources. This in turn will move to the closure of coal fire power stations (which we already know is so detrimental to our ecosystems and climate).
On a more personal note, the project has allowed for succession planning of our family farm as well as giving us the opportunity to have an on-farm off-farm income (which will be imperative, especially given seasonal variations and challenges faced regularly by farmers). Even with this project on farm, we will still maintaining our grazing land, giving us the ability to continue our work and be part of the welcome renewable energy change.

Save Our Woodlands would like to object to the proposed development of a wind farm at Winterbourne, please see attached letter.

Please see attached submission

Renewable energy is the solution to climate change. It appears that the relevant landowners are consulted and showed support for the project.

This is a Win Win Win Project.
First, it's a win for the local and broader communities because (a) it is an environmentally responsible form of energy generation, (b) the Wind Farm will bring economic and social benefits to the local Walcha community and neighbouring communities (in the form of jobs and significant annual monetary contributions to the community from the Wind Farm Developer / Operator) and (c) the Wind Farm has only a tiny footprint for the MW energy produced and income earned therefrom.
Secondly. it's a win for Landowners, (a) because the returns to host and non-host landowners will far exceed those from any compulsory acquisitions of land needed for a viable wind farm, (b) landowners have a say in the location of wind turbines (ie. those who don't want them are not forced to have them, unlike if a prescribed authority compulsorily acquired a wind turbine site, (c) host infrastructure landowners and neighbours will be less dependent on agricultural earnings by diversification of their revenue base (d) any landowner who does not or pretends not to like wind turbines will see far less of them than if it was built 20 years ago when more turbines were needed to generate the same amount of power.
Thirdly, it's a win for the Wind Farm Developer / Operator due to the economics of necessary goods such as electricity, which will secure long term profits to investors, and also to Governments and ultimately the consumer through reduced power prices.
It is also important to note that the Winterbourne Wind Farm will be an outstanding example of the the important synergies between the renewable energy industry (especially wind and solar energy) and the agriculture industry, especially in the New England of NSW. As the world moves to renewables and away from animal meat, New England farmers, who for now are now enjoying high demand for animal meat, will eventually (or soon) see animal meat demand and consumption fall, making income from renewables more critical for farming financial security.
There is no genuine basis for any complaint of this wind farm based on other wind farm developments around the world.

See letter attached

This project will provide extensive employment opportunities for the local region.
One of the keys to decarbonisation is innovative and meaningful collaboration between the farming and power generation sectors. I look forward to seeing how Vestas will work with landholders to promote a mixed use model.
I support this project and wish the development and construction teams all the best in the anticipated delivery.
Regards
Toby Foster