Following interest by Fera Australia to install two wind farms in the Koyuga-Nanneella area, some locals have expressed concern with the project, particularly due to the proposed proximity of the turbines to their homes.
The current setback distance in Victoria is 1km from a home to a turbine, reduced from 2km in 2015.
Residents are concerned that this distance was considered with shorter turbines in mind, typically around 150m, whereas the height of the proposed turbines could reach 230m.
Ms Lovell spoke in parliament on Wednesday, July 31, asking Ms Kilkenny to review the setback distances of wind turbines from homes.
“Fera Australia recently hosted a community meeting with locals from Nanneella, in my electorate, to discuss their proposal to install 40 to 50 wind turbines on two farmland sites between Nanneella and Koyuga,” she said.
“There was strong community opposition to this proposal, and although no planning application has yet been submitted, the minister should be aware of local sentiment in the area.
“The meeting heard that these larger and higher turbines will cast noise further than the smaller turbines that the 1-kilometre setback was modelled on.
“The community members in the meeting were adamant that a 1-kilometre setback from homes is simply not adequate to protect them from the noise of the larger, newer turbines.”
Ms Lovell also drew on recommendations from the Australian Eneregy Infrastructure Commissioner, suggesting a minimum setback distance of 1.5km.
“In his 2021 annual report the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner recommended that state governments introduce a default setback of 1.5 kilometres for wind turbines with a tip of 200 metres to limit noise and shadow flicker effects and consider a longer setback to minimise impact on visual amenities,” Ms Lovell said.
In response, Ms Kilkenny shared on Friday, August 30, that the Victorian Government is not currently reviewing these distances.
She highlighted the need for written consent if a turbine is proposed within a kilometre of a home.
“The Victoria Planning Provisions require the written consent of a house owner is required if a turbine is proposed within one kilometre of that house,” she said.
“If the consent is not given, then the turbine cannot be located closer than 1 kilometre from that house.
“The government is not currently reviewing this requirement.”
Ms Lovell is disappointed by this answer, which she sees as an infringement on the voices of the Koyuga-Nanneella community.
“Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny is completely ignoring the legitimate concerns of rural and regional Victorians, and refusing to consider changing the wind turbine setback distance, because of an ideological obsession with forcing a large-scale energy transition upon the state,” she said.
“The government has blocked third-party appeals to planning approvals at VCAT, stripping away the rights of the community to have their voice heard.
“The government is struggling to achieve its renewable energy targets, so it has decided to override the wishes of local communities.”
