I am total a posed to the visual and inviromental impact the preposed Rye Park wind farm will have on my community. The wind towers are inefficient and do not supply enough power. Why destroy our beautiful rural community. If they were a viable source of energy. Why are they not spread across the Brindabella ranges???

To NSW Planning,
I would like to make a submission against the proposed 126 turbine Rye Park wind farm.
These wind turbines would be an ugly addition to our beautiful scenic area.
I have concerns for the native timber that would have to removed to make way for these turbines, with naïve birds and animals relying on it for food and shelter. The Superb Grass Parrott lives in the area and is endangered.
The area proposed for the wind farm is in soils which are prone to erosion. These shallow soils are fragile and prone to tunnelling and disturbance will threaten the environment.
The proposed towers are massive and the health risks to the district from these massive towers is unknown and that cant be good for anyone. If there were no health risks and they weren't ugly they would be building them in the cities.
These wind farms are also inefficient and would not be a viable alternative unless the government provided green energy subsidies. Lets remove all of the government payments to energy companies and see if they are still keen to go ahead.
I object to all wind farm development in the Yass Valley
yours Sincerely,
Graham Wilson

I am an owner and occupier a property on Rye Park Road, Yass NSW 2582, known as R47. My husband and I purchased this property over 4 years ago. We were not told of the proposed wind farm prior to the purchase. I have several concerns in regards to the proposed Rye Park Wind Farm and the way that it is being implemented.

According to Table 17 from the document entitled Visual Impact Assessment our dwelling is approximately 1,257m to the closest turbine, however, according to Figure 56 from the same document our approximate distance to the closest turbine is only 1,247m. Whilst this is only a 10m discrepancy in approximate distance away from our house I feel that having continuity with in a document regarding my visual impact is important. Whether the distance be 1,247m or 1,257m to the closest turbine it is far too close for my comfort and I am concerned greatly by the negative impact the turbines will have to our lifestyle. It is concerning to me that I found this error in the report so easily, I doubt highly that it is the only error in the document.

According to Table 22 from the Visual Impact assessment we are also located 1,165m from a proposed 330 kv powerline. It has been recommended that planting of trees would potentially help with the visual implications of the powerline. "Strategic planting to the north and north east of the dwelling would potentially screen portions of the powerline from views surrounding the dwelling." (Table 22, page 197, Visual Impact Statement) The table does not mention who is responsible for planting these trees. Planting a large amount of trees is costly both financially and in time. I do not feel that it is fair for my husband and I to have to out lay the time and the money to plant trees to screen some of the power line. I also cannot imagine that trees would be a suitable screen for at least a decade or two while they reach maturity and are of a height where they could effectively screen anything. Table 22 Also says that our visual impact to the powerline is Low, being such a close distance to the powerline I disagree with this and request that it be reassessed. On Tuesday the 7th June 2016 at a meeting with representatives from Trustpower at their shop front on Comur St Yass, my husband and I requested a new photo montage of our property be made showing the proposed powerline. We were informed that a new photo montage would be easy for them to provide us with and that it would take 20 minutes for them to do. We have still not received this image.

Trustpower have had a lack of communication throughout the whole time we have had dealings with them. I attended the Community Information Day at Rye Park Memorial Hall on Tuesday 22nd September 2015 to obtain information that I felt critical to helping me make an informed decision on my stance on the project. I had several questions in regards to the neighbourhood benefit scheme, visual and noise impact, construction stages and the road maintenance. I spoke to several members of Trustpower on the day and the staff were unable to answer any of my questions. I was told that I would be contacted in the weeks following the meeting with answers to my questions. I wrote my name, email address, mobile phone number and address on at least 2 separate forms requesting contact information. At no point following this information day was I contacted. Trustpower have made no effort to ever call, email or to arrange a face to face meeting to discuss our feelings towards the project. The meeting that we had on the 7th June this year was organised by my husband. If he had not initiated the meeting there is no doubt that we would not have had a one on one meeting with them. I was also informed at this meeting that I would be contacted in the days after with answers to queries we had. I received an email with some answers to some of my questions on the 22nd of June at 3.42pm. I feel that this was response was strategically sent by them to be very close to the deadline for this submission. This is due to the fact that I am unable to say they did not answer my questions but the response came in a timeframe that did not give me adequate time to research their answers.

One of the things that makes this area and my property so special is the native wildlife that live in the area. The Biodiversity Assessment Addendum (Apendix C) makes mention of several species that will be placed at risk because of this proposed project but I can find no mention of either echidnas or kangaroos. These are both native animals that live in the area of the proposed Rye Park Wind farm. Due to the sheer size of this proposed project it is negligent to not make mention of the expected loss of these species. The clearing of their habitat will significantly reduce their numbers to the area. While they may not be endangered species they are still entitled to live in their native habitat and measures should be taken to reduce the risk to these animals as well. I asked members of Trustpower if there was any plans to attempt to relocate animals prior to the construction stage and their reply was no, there are no plans in place to relocate animals prior to construction.

The proposed Rye Park Wind Farm is certain to negatively affect the lives of so many residents from the area. Children who live in the area will not be able to escape the noise and shadow flicker from the turbines. They will be subjected to both the noise and flicker at both home and at the local school. As a resident in the catchment area for the Rye Park school it would be of great concern to me if I had children who had to study with those conditions at school and live with them at home. There would be no escape from the noise pollution for them. The long term implications for the children are concerning. I am unable to find any peer reviewed articles that address the matter of implications to children who are at such close proximity to turbines of this size from birth.

I strongly urge the Department of Planning to not allow for this project to pass through. The negative impact this project will have on so many people, the environment and native wildlife do not make this a viable option.

The Hon. Rob Stokes
Minister for Planning NSW

Dear Sir,
I make the following submission in general support of the proposed Rye Park Wind Farm development.
In fact, I am firmly of the opinion that man made climate change is a very real phenomenon - primarily because of our present dependence on fossil fuel combustion-, and accordingly think that all governments should embrace large scale solar and wind power developments as a matter of urgency.

I have perused the various submissions you have received for this project and realise that the vast majority object to this new wind farm. While I certainly sympathise with some of the expressed sentiments, I do not think that issues of "'visual pollution", perceptions of low frequency vibrations and possible negative impacts on endangered species are sufficiently strong reasons to deny this project.
Certainly the companies involved should make some recompense to residents who are likely to suffer any genuine disadvantage, but the cynical side of my nature tells me that many of the objections probably stem from worries of decreased property values if the turbines are erected.

I have absolutely no financial interest whatsoever in this proposed development, and nor am I a member of any lobby group, although i am strongly in favor of renewable energy.
I live near the large wind farm on Lake George, and have no reason to believe this installation is in any way detrimental to the general environment or significantly impacts on usage of the land for 'traditional' farming purposes. I feel the same would be true of the Rye Park development if it is approved.
(Again I do not receive any financial or other benefits from the Lake George plant.)

Thank you,
and best regards
Robert Angel

I do not like the look of wind turbines. I think they spoil the view which is beautiful at my daughters house at Blakney Creek. It would be a pity to look across and see a lot of turbines on top of the hill.
My cousin used to work in the energy industry and was responsible for a technical feasibility study for Crookwell 1 Wind Farm. Due to their operating efficiency, he has subsequently been opposed to them for the past 10 years.
His further concerns are that my daughter will not be able to live in her house which will be 1.6km from the nearest of 9 turbines, due to pressure pulses and noise.
The unknown impacts on health, which are currently under further review due to the NHMRC request, should be enough to cease all wind farm developments near residential dwellings.

Given the declining needs for electricity in this country, there does not appear to be a need for further wind farms in Australia.
As can be seen with the cessation of new wind farm developments in the US and Europe, we should not be proceeding with further wind farms.
I have further concerns that the development of any wind farm by a foreign company will be detrimental as the company will not have the same priorities for the use of the land as the local residents, and farmers, in the case of the Rye Park Wind Farm.

I grew up on a farm at Cowra and moved to a property near Rugby NSW after my marriage. I lived in the Rugby area until my retirement almost 15 years ago. Although now living in Crookwell I still have many close friends in the Rugby, Rye Park and Boorowa areas.
I am familiar with the closeness of small communities, the hardships endured, along with the rewards of living in such communities. I have seen what the development of wind farms has done in the Crookwell area (Gullen Range, Cullerin, Gunning, Crookwell 1,) and sadly am now witnessing the same division and mistrust in the Community in which I spent most of my life.
I have grave concerns for the cumulative effects of the many hundreds of wind turbines being built and proposed on the Southern Tablelands. The amount of turbines in the district and the long term effect on the aesthetics and land values will be detrimental.
A few people will be getting their pockets full and it will be like a graveyard for the rest of those sitting in the middle of it all. I have never seen so many common sense people sucked in so badly. They deserve what they get if the noise is too much, or they look worse than expected. However the long term effects on the aesthetics and the value of their properties may not be something that happens in their lifetime. Their grandchildren may be the ones to suffer when wind turbines are no longer fashionable and they are left there to deteriorate and rust.
I can clearly see the Gullen Range wind turbines from my home in Crookwell and they are approximately 15 kilometres away. I have a friend who lives on the edge of Crookwell, 5 kilometres from the Gullen Range turbines and she can clearly hear them when the wind is blowing from the direction of the turbines. I can't imagine what it will be like living in the Rye Park area where they will be literally surrounded by hundreds of these massive things. It won't matter which direction the wind blows the sound will always be there. It can never be disputed by the developers of the proposed wind farm in Rye Park that they will make noise, and if they think planting a few trees around affected homes is going to make it ok to live there then they don't know what living in the country is all about.
Gordon Grant

I am an avid supporter of the development of wind farms in this region and look forward to the time when the Rye Park Wind Farm project comes to fruition.
This project will provide an injection of funds into the community where business opportunities and community services will grow and prosper. I have seen first-hand how other regional town and village sporting clubs, local shows and community facilities have benefited from community enhancement funds that wind farm projects contribute towards.

The new opportunities that have come by way of employment in these areas where a wind farm has been built are obvious. Businesses have grown and consolidated in the area. This is very evident in the agricultural sector where farmers have more funds they can allocate for capital improvements, previously placed as low priority. I wish to see the same advantages for Boorowa/Rye Park region. An injection of funds from such development will always have a roll-on effect.

But beyond the immediate benefits to the prosperity and growth of our home towns in this area, is the collective responsibility everyone must take in reducing our carbon footprints. Meeting the existing, and extending a national RET substantially is a "must" for any government if they wish to take responsibility for Australia's role in global warming. Climate change not only affects our livelihoods as agriculturists, but our future generations and our planets survival. Renewable energy projects such as the Rye Park Wind Farm are a major step in the right direction. Every effort must be made to ensure that renewable energy should be our major energy source as soon as possible.

SSD 6693

I am Maddi Pearsall. I have lived in the Rye Park community my whole life, 21 years. I am a fourth generation Pearsall. I must admit I like the turbines, their imposing height, the way they enhance the landscape, and their capacity to produce electricity. Recently I was standing near the turbines at Carcoar, it was noisy but not overwhelming, and I was in awe admiring a manmade product fitting perfectly into the landscape. This is also a popular rest stop for travellers.

I spent most of my spare time helping my family on the farm and enjoyed every minute of it. However when I completed high school, I choose to move to Bathurst to further my studies and allow myself to be open to more job opportunities as Rye Park is very limited in career choices. I believe that the wind turbines will create a high percentage of jobs and benefit the local community in a variety of ways. The community would benefit from the turbines by creating jobs and ongoing employment and staff.

From personal experience working in the hills on our property it can get quiet windy. I believe the wind is a great resource, the wind turbines can utilise this reserve. We have a large amount of property that the wind turbines could be placed on and they would have little impact on the running of our farm as they do not take up a lot of area unlike other resources such as, solar farms. Our family farm sheep, they would not be affected in terms of their grazing area being taken over as they would be able to graze right up to the edge of the turbines.

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." I believe it is about time that we all become realists.

I fully support the Rye Park Wind Project and it is very pleasing this project is progressing to the stage of final development approval.

At present, there is no form of energy that is perfect in any given situation, but renewable energy is the only option to care for our planet. Wind power in this area offers substantial clean energy, yet low impact on agricultural land use and natural resources found here. It is essential that projects such as this go ahead and continue to contribute to the goal of 100% renewable energy powering our needs, because our future depends on reigning in the impact of climate change and environmental destruction wrought by non-renewable energy sources.

I look forward to the economic advantages our region will benefit from this project going ahead. With such an injection of funds into the community, this region can progress to realise its full potential. Existing businesses will be stimulated to grow and new ones establish. The community that is so important to contributing to each residents sense of well-being and belonging, will prosper by being able to offer more opportunities in the way of employment, education, and community services. The economic benefits of this project would be long term and far reaching in this region. This area needs such development opportunities to ensure its future prosperity in a time when there continues to be falling populations, and less opportunities in country regions to attract young people to build their futures in the area.