Winterbourne Wind Farm

I support the project because it will create a lot of jobs and opportunities for the local community and in particular the next generation. Also, the project is within the Renewable Energy Zone which is very well positioned to supply cheaper electricity to the Aussies. We need more project like this one to resist climate change.

If the project is built it will be one of the largest windfarms in Australia and will play an important role in the renewable energy transition. It will contribute to state and national renewable energy targets, reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For these reasons I support the project.

I support clean energy initiatives

Renewable project is unstoppable and will bring benefit to the community and future generation. I believe this project will add great value to the Australian clean energy schedule and target and will benefit the local community.

Due to the climate change crisis our world is experiencing, there is an undeniable & urgent need for Australia to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Australia has been completely irresponsible in its reaction to the climate crisis thus far, and now it is time to take action in earnest! The New England region of NSW has a wonderful wind resource, and so it makes complete sense to build a wind farm in this area where the resource is abundant. Walcha is primarily a grazing district for sheep & cattle, and the beauty of a wind farm is that once the turbines have been built, farmers & the wind farm can run cohesively with stock being able to graze right up to the foot of the turbines...... we have seen this in our district already at the wind farms near Glen Innes and Inverell. Walcha is a small town, and like many small towns in our regional areas, is being affected by a declining population and lack of industry. Winterbourne Wind would bring a huge economic injection, as well as employment & commercial opportunities to our town. Walcha is a fiercely independent community, but the Council has been struggling financially and will again be under threat of another amalgamation..... we need this industry in our town to remain independent and financially sound, and what better than a renewable energy project that can work together with our farmers. This project will also contribute financially to our community annually for the lifetime of the project....... this is an amazing opportunity for our town.
Thank you. We need to do this. Climate action is urgent, not only can our little town contribute to a better world, we will benefit economically, and continue to be the wonderful & fiercely independent community we have always been.... what an opportunity!

I believe that this development will be beneficial on an economic level for Walcha.
I believe in global warming and I think wind is the best source of renewable energy

I am making this submission to object to the development of the Winterbourne Wind Farm (Application Number SSD-10471) in the Walcha and Uralla Shires. The reasons for my objection are as follows:
1. Our primary production land will be approximately 3 kms from some proposed turbines. We will be able to see these turbines from our front yard - I would rather look at gum trees!
2. I am concerned about the unknowns in this development - such as the long term impact on the health of animals, potential loss of wild life during the construction phase and the long term impact on the health of humans.
3. I am concerned about the road degradation and who will pay for the maintenance of these roads. Both Uralla and Walcha Councils are struggling to maintain the roads after recent weather events - so they do not need any additional burdens.
4. After the 2019 drought - I have significant concerns about our water security. We have been advised that significant amounts of water will be required during the construction phase. Will this impact on our water security for future years - what plans if any have been put in place to address this issue.
5. The whole process has been rather secretive and as a result the community of Walcha has become rather divided. I feel this development will have a detrimental impact on the community as a whole if it proceeds.
6. Who will be the developer at the end of the project, when the turbines are to be decommissioned? Is there any guarantee that these turbines will be removed at the end of their useful life. We had a wind testing turbine installed on our property 15 years ago. The data retrieved from the testing turbine indicated that there was insufficient wind on our property to warrant the installation of any turbines. This turbine is still on our property and has not been removed, as the company that installed it originally was liquidated. If we can't get a testing tower removed, are there any guarantees that land holders will get the proposed turbines decommissioned.
7. I am concerned that there will be an unknown impact on the future value of our primary production land. As we do not intend to have turbines on our farming property - will the value of our land decline because we are neighbouring farms with turbines. Will we be compensated for this devaluation, and if so, who would compensate us?
8. Will these turbines have an impact on our farming practices? If we wish to fertilise our property using aerial spraying - will the turbines impact the ability for us to do this?
9. There appears to be numerous secret deals being made with landholders neighbouring farms with proposed turbines. No one really knows what is fair compensation for being a neighbour to a farm with the turbines and if everyone is getting similar compensation.
10. Will the proposed turbines generate sufficient power to ensure that the developers remain viable? As previously mentioned, we live 3 kms from a proposed development, and our testing tower indicated that our property did not generate sufficient wind. (Our testing tower collected data for approximately 5 years) If the developers are unable to make money from this project, then I suspect that these turbines will remain on our prime agricultrual land for many more years to come.

I support the project for several reasons. Firstly, I strongly believe in finding sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to current and future energy requirements. I have seen how successful wind farms have been utilised in UK. Also, Walcha would benefit economically by the advent of additional employment to the area, and hopefully assist in population growth to the town.

Walcha area is an ideal geographical location for a wind farm.The farm would help boost the NSW electricity supply and also help the Government reach its zero emission target by 2050. I would also be of great benefit to the town by providing significant employment opportunities for an area that has suffered from a decreasing and ageing population over the last 50 years. The project would boost local business in both the short and long term and ensure the survival of the local schools and hospital.

To whom it may concern,
There will be up to 400 jobs created during construction, and 16 permanent operations jobs that Walcha and the surrounding district will required. Furthermore, Walcha is blessed with strong winds and cloudless days so it makes Walcha a valuable region to build such a project to balance the load of energy. Lastly, we desperately need renewable energy to replace our dependence on aging fossil fuel plants in NSW and Australia - this is paramount and will drive our success as a country in the future.
Regards,
Nick

I believe this project would be of significant benefit to walcha and surrounding areas
I feel that the benefits outweigh the supposed negatives more people long or short term coming into the area can only be a plus with a aging population and significant retail decline to reject a project of this proportion in a time of climate awareness would be fatal to our society
If we do not take advantage of this opportunity for both our area and our environment it will happen somewhere else why should not we benefit

Renewable Energy projects are vital for many reasons.
1. Fossil fuels are becoming increasing expensive and do not help with our current environmental issues that are clearly creating havoc globally.
2. Renewable developments will provide the economic stimulus we need of the future of small communities like Walcha.
3. Rural communities cannot be expected to always rely on Agricultural family business. Rural communities need long term jobs backed by an industry that will support generations of local employees.
4. The landholder income derived from renewable infrastructure will deliver vital funds for farmers to improve their assets as well as protect them against very volatile seasonal conditions that inevitably will continue to challenge our rural industry.
5. The billions of dollars of investments will not only strengthen the Walcha community but multiple developments in the New England will strengthen the economic outlook for the region.
6. Local business will have the opportunity to thrive if they take advantage of the influx of long term employees as well as community financial confidence created by local investment.
7. Local councils will have a massive opportunity to take advantage of commercial arrangements agreed with developers.
8. Long term developer funding programs will support the people, local infrastructure, not for profit organisations and services in general.
9. Walcha and the surrounding region will significantly benefit from State government funding due to the New England becoming REZ. Meaning better roads and general infrastructure upgrades.
10. Local community jobs training programs will become available to local Schools and the wider community.

The transition to renewable energy is critical for this town to survive into the future.

Supporting a renewable future!

Having had experience with wind farm construction and operation in a similar small rural town in WA (Merredin) I can attest to the positive impact these projects have on the community. The project build brings an economic boom
in the form of hundreds of new workers to the town all spending money locally, needing accomodation, food, fuel etc. Then once in operation this ecomonmic rush slows to a consistent benefit of offering a new employment base for locals including apprenticeships for youth.

In addition to this a project of this scale will significantly contribute to the nations emission reduction targets in the battle against climate change. NSW goal is to have 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (relative to 2005 levels) and as I understand it, are nowhere close to that. This project alone will contribute approx 3% towards that target.

With wind energy now being economically competitve against fossil fuel, the progress towards a cleaner future for NSW and tehe much needed economic benefit to the tune of hundreds of millions to small rural communities I think that the Winterbourne Wind Farm project is a must for NSW.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I write in support of the Winterbourne Wind Farm. As a citizen concerned about ensuring an orderly transition to renewable energy in NSW this project will make a significant contribution. As court cases set precedents which will make the mining and burning of coal unviable and untenable and as the cost of extending the life of aged coal generators increases, it is essential that we get the electricity generation projects we need approved and into the ground as soon as possible.
All projects have local impacts. The need for the project is clear. The balance of the local impacts against the wider community benefits of the project is key to consideration of the project. The project seems to have minimised local impacts where possible.
Objector voices can be strong and supporter voices can be few but many want to see the transition to renewable energy and all want the lights to stay on.
Wind farms can be the guardians of the landscape - they ensure that the land on which they sit is viable, enabling good farming practices which can endure drought, flood and fire. They enable resilience in local communities through the local jobs associated, through the benefit fund and through the trickle down of landowner payments enabling local and regional businesses to ride through the inevitable upswings and downturns in the economy over the life of the wind farm.
At the end of the wind farm's life there is no massive hole in the ground, no toxic water or spoil heaps. There will be roads which aid farming and fire-fighting. There will be a community which has used the benefit fund to make local communities vibrant places in which to live.
I hope the local community leaders prevail in harnessing the opportunities presented by this essential project.
I support this project.

I support the Winterbourne Wind Farm Project to boost employment opportunities in the area to help the local community and small business in the area. I have been involved in several projects over the years and have personally seen the ongoing benefits to small communities due to funding and grants provided and reviewed yearly which is spend in the direct area.
Building projects of this size has a significant impact on supporting the decrease of carbon emissions and climate change which i am passionate about making a mark as much as possible.

Help shape a sustainable future !!!

I have worked in the wind industry for over 20 years prior to this I worked in the coal fire power industry of Latrobe Valley in Victoria.
I have seen both sides.
I fully support our country moving away from fossil fueled economy and moving towards 100% renewables.
I have seen the benefits the renewable industry brings to the local communities, and I have seen the destruction and pollution, along with the bad health effects burning fossil fuels has done to my friends and families.
We need to have a sustainable future for our children and a mixture of renewables, pump hydro and battery storage is the future, I do not support nuclear as there is no solution for the waste.