Victorian Government introduces new planning restrictions for wind farms

Concerns have been raised over new planning rules that have been introduced by the Victorian Government that restrict new wind farm developments. The rules, which place large parts of Victoria off-limits for wind farm developments, are said to be restrictive and will stifle rural development and slow Victoria’s shift to clean energy.

“These arbitrary, draconian restrictions will cost Victoria billions of dollars and thousands of jobs,” said Friends of the Earth campaign coordinator Cam Walker.

“At a time when we urgently need to generate more clean energy, this policy is sending us back to the dark ages.

“These strict planning restrictions do not apply to any other major developments and make it easier to build a coal mine in rural Victoria than a wind farm,” he said.

The changes, published in the Government Gazette, create wind farm ‘no-go’ zones in large areas including the Mornington Peninsula, Macedon and Yarra Ranges, and Wilsons Promontory.

The government has formalised the set-back policy banning wind farms within two kilometres of houses and added an extra, unexpected restriction blocking the construction of wind farms within five kilometres of major regional centres.

“The Baillieu government recently gave a sustainability award to leading community wind-farm operators Hepburn Wind, but these new rules will probably kill off any further community wind farm proposals.

“This decision, intended to appease a handful of anti-wind farm advocates, will play out badly for the government.

“The majority of Victorians want action on climate change and understand that we must speed up our transition to low-carbon energy sources like wind.

“This policy will send investment and jobs interstate, and rural councils and landowners will miss out on the substantial income that comes with the development of wind farms.

“While the government acts against further wind development, it turns a blind eye to the growing threat of coal seam gas (CSG) and new coal mining operations.

“This is not being well received in rural Victoria, and the government continues on this path - of favouring new and destructive fossil fuels over benign renewable energy - at its own peril,” concluded Walker.