I have uploaded and attached my submission as a PDF
I retain the right to summit further information.

As a result of the recent public exhibitions, I am not in support of this Rye Park Wind Farm project while there are so many community and direct issues that have not been addressed. The Project proposes to install turbines on my property and a powerline which will transverse through my property. I have been working through these issues with initially Winlab, and now Epuron.

There is no consistency and many differences between my discussions with Epuron, the Rye Park Wind Farm EA and locals who are pro and against this Project.

Consequently, there is a need for further clarification on the following before I can support the Rye Park Wind Farm Project;
* Traffic volume study on Blakney Creek Rd South. This light traffic and narrow road needs to be ruled out of use for this Project or upgraded to handle the impact of large numbers of semi trailers and damage they will cause.
* Legal liability of any fire and/or catastrophic event resulting from the turbines and/or powerlines and/or acts of employees/contractors on site.
* Agreed procedures with Yass fire brigade in the event of a turbine fire.
* Decommission arrangements and the requirement of a fund to be held by the operator.
* All issues agreed or clarified with this project transfer to any new entity.
* There is no agreed access from Blakney Creek Rd South through my property.
* There is no agreed access for this Project from Dalton Rd at/near the `Spring Creek' property entrance.
* The `Lease Land' area for my property marked on all the maps is incorrect. The discussed `Leased Land' is an easement up to 60m surrounding the turbines and access roads.
* My airstrip on my property is not shown on the airstrip map and the impact of not being allowed to use it.
* My house has not been assessed for the study of the impact of turbine noise.
* Until a noise impact is done, turbines RVP 106, 107 and 110 are not agreed being too close to our residence.
* My house and surrounds are not part of the lease land have no building restrictions.
* The powerline discussed on my property was a `T' shape. There is a different compensation model that would need to be agreed to should a much larger `coathanger' style powerline be considered.
* Through my property, the `alternative powerline' marked is the preferred powerline route.

I look forward to further discussions to clarify the issues above before my support can be given.

Please consider this submission in preference to the previous one submitted as Albert Barrass of 3522 Rye Park Rd Yass

Concerned that property will not be protected from bushfire due to aviation exclusion zone.
Property values will decrease if turbines are installed.
I dont like the look of the turbines and am concerned about the impact on the health of my family and livestock.

As a resident adjacent to the wind farm, I am opposed to its construction for reasons which are environmental, visual impact, noise and health concerns and due to the proximity of the turbines to the land on which I live.
The planned access road, 120m to the East of my residence will have a negative impact on my land and my stock.
I am not convinced that there are no health implications and as Epuron have yet to decide on the design and size of the turbines, I do not believe that they can assure any member of the public that there will be no future impact.

see attached

RYE FARM WIIND FARM PROJECT APPLICATION
Number: 10_0223
SUBMISSION: 04/07/2014
DR. ALAN C WATTS OAM
DR. COLLEEN J WATTS OAM

We wish to register an OBJECTION to the Rye Farm Wind Farm Project Application and urge the Department of Planning to NOT recommend its approval.

INTRODUCTION

The continued promulgation of wind farms is most definitely not directed towards the public interest on many levels including (but not limited to) issues of health (adverse health effects, vibration and flicker), economics, energy supply intermittency, visual pollution, wildlife and environmental adverse effects, community disharmony and disruption, damage to roads and local infrastructure and tenuous arrangements for decommissioning. With the added impost of subsidies (by way of the cost of the RECs being passed to the electricity consumer, and other subsidies) the construction and operation of industrial wind turbines has become a travesty.

There can be no place for IWTs in a modern, progressive economy. Despite the wind industry's cries to the contrary in the near future IWTs will become obsolete technology and rural residents will be left with landscapes littered with derelict relics with which they will have to contend. It is time that our governments looked hard at the realities of this situation and took appropriate steps to ensure that this does not happen.

We draw your attention to the NSW Draft Wind Farm Guidelines, now several years old and yet to be approved. Although the Rye Park Wind Farm is being assessed under Part 3A it is still advisable to consider the Guidelines when assessing this project. What is no longer tolerable for new projects does not make poor assessments under Part 3A suddenly acceptable. There is a moral responsibility for the government to make responsible judgements of proposals using the latest knowledge. The argument that there can be no retrospectivity is also not valid. There are numerous cases where government decisions have been made retrospectively.

HEALTH IMPACTS

Nationally and internationally there is an accumulating body of evidence that IWTs are producing adverse health effects for many residents living within the orbit of wind farms. The issues revolve around the effects of audible noise, vibration and flicker, and the effects of low frequency noise and infrasound (LFNI). The adverse health effects (AHE) caused by audible noise from a variety of sources and environments have been well studied over many years, and have been addressed to some extent by the World Health Organisation and other national and international bodies. The AHEs caused by LFNI have been less well studied but irrefutable evidence is coming to light about the sequelae of continuous exposure to IWTs particularly in a section of the exposed population.

Rather than reiterate the specific reports and journal publications on this matter I refer you to the excellent summary of current knowledge outlined by the Waubra Foundation:

http://waubrafoundation.org.au/health/current-knowledge/#menu0-el1

and the National Wind Watch website:

https://www.wind-watch.org/ww-noise-health.php

These are but two of a growing number of websites and resources which meticulously record and make easily available the rapidly expanding knowledge base about the problems of noise and health, particularly as they relate to IWTs.

SET BACK DISTANCES

As noted, Rye Park Wind Farm is being assessed as a Part 3A project. Nevertheless the setback distances recommended in the NSW Draft Wind Farm Guidelines should be considered. The population numbers within distances that will potentially cause AHEs is extremely concerning.

For instance, the village of Rye Park is located in a valley below the IWTs and many of them will be seen from the village. The village has a population of 237 and a considerable number of these people will live less than 2 kms from IWTs. The main street itself will be 2.6 km from the nearest turbine.

This would be unacceptable in terms of the Draft Guidelines. As we understand it the Guidelines specify that IWTs cannot be less than 2 kms from a non-host unless an acceptable "gateway" process has been negotiated. Moreover a community should not be closer than 5 kms.

According to the 2011 Census the following populations will be within 10 kms from this wind farm : Boorowa - 1211 people, Yass - 6329 people, Dalton - 109 people, Rye Park - 237 people.

There have been several studies that show that significant LFNI has been found out to 11 kms. This was documented as long ago as 1985 by NASA, and there has been corroborating evidence since.

The NSW Department of Planning (and other Departments with relevant responsibilies, eg. Department of Health) has a duty of care towards any person potentially affected by IWTs. The inadequate recommendations by such bodies as the NHMRC and AMA do NOT give permission to our Government bodies to neglect the accumulating evidence of the AHEs due to wind turbines.

We therefore urge the Department of Planning to look carefully at the location of the IWTs contained within the Rye Park Wind Farm, to acknowledge that there is the potential of great harm to a considerable number of people and to make the responsible decision to NOT RECOMMEND THAT THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Alan C. Watts OAM

Dr. Colleen J Watts OAM

Boorowa Council Submission

see FIle attachment 1

I retain the right to submit further information. File attached