Our family lives in Tamworth, and we frequently visit Nundle, Hanging Rock, Head of the Peel and the forests and other areas in the vicinity. It is our favourite area for many activities in such a pristine and interesting area. We are regular visitors for mountain bike riding, camping and picnicking, horse riding, forest drives and exploring, visits to Nundle town and hotel.
We are most concerned about the wind farm being located around the hills of Nundle. We are fully supportive of renewable energy generation and wind farms. But we feel most strongly that the area proposed is not appropriate and will have a large adverse effect on the area.
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
Damage to the environment of an iconic and pristine area at the head of the Peel River catchment – a lot has already occurred and more is going to happen –
· Clearing of extensive areas of trees and native vegetation. This is probably illegal, or at best could only be justified on spurious and meaningless grounds.
· Erosion of the tops of the hills and siltation of pristine creeks below will be the result of this.
· Damming of the springs and waterways – catching and preventing continuous low flows which are critical to the creeks and environment, but also stock and other uses below.
· Other environmental effects of roads, construction, traffic, hauling the towers into and through this pristine area surrounded by national parks and forestry.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative locations would be available on the top of the range to take advantage of the winds where they are not located in such a pristine area and could be much more easily accessed and wind towers constructed.
The road heading east from Nundle follows the top of the range falling off to the coast on one side and the western rivers on the other. This area is all forestry and on a constructed road. It seems that this would be a much more appropriate location than the “Head of the Peel".
COMMUNITY
Angst and division within the community has become a major issue in the town and area.
I cannot believe the claims about the benefits to Nundle and jobs created in the longer term. Limited maintenance by specialists visiting the area does not do much for the town, and is it worth it.
Any benefits could be gained otherwise by placing the wind turbine forest in a more appropriate area.
SUMMARY
There is so much going for Nundle region as an area of interest for the dams, forests, pristine rivers.
Hundreds of wind turbines dominating the skyline with roads and construction traffic, environmental effects on the catchment and rivers, and other effects on the town and community, cannot fail to have a significant effect on the ambience and enjoyment of the area. The benefits on jobs and Nundle will be minimal.
I can’t believe that such a wind farm will surround the hills of Nundle, when I feel that there are other more appropriate areas nearby along the top of the range and in the forests where they could be located.

My submission is attached

This objection to the Hills of Gold wind farm is from a team of agents at Imacka Property.

Our agency is headquartered in Uralla and we have a registered sub-branch in Nundle. As rural agents, we sell views for a living and understand the commercial value of a pretty outlook or a million dollar view. We don't know how anybody could argue that the property’s value wouldn't be impacted, if the very asset the property was purchased for is taken away.

Nundle and Hanging Rock areas have an unusually high proportion of lifestyle acreage properties, holiday houses and weekenders. For an area with this size of population and level of services, Hanging Rock and Nundle are quite pricey. The attractiveness of the area is at play here.

If the Hills of Gold wind farm proceeds, we expect a direct financial impact to our operations (lower prices = lower commissions) and to the value of asset base of our clients.

We believe the properties in view of wind turbines will always lag in value behind the equivalent properties not affected.

We would like to see this development rejected to avoid the degradation of a popular area lifestyle area and tourism destination.

I have attached my submission

See Attached Submission

I am strongly in favour of the Windfarm Project proposed for Nundle/Hanging Rock.
I live on a property and believe the windfarm will create employment, in turn a bigger population therefore children at our school and more beneficial facilities for our town with the funding.

I believe it will have an negative impact on the environmental and aesthetics of this region. I have been coming to this area to visit friends for 10 years and do not wish to see this area compromised