Archive: Wind Turbines
Last Updated 5/4/11
(20/11/10 - E) Seems these fires aren't easy to put out...
MRRA had some (unsolicited) interesting comments come in from someone living on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia. The comments relate to a story in our last website update about a wind farm proposal in South Gisborne. Here's what our 'crow-eater' had to say:
Recently wind farms are popping up on the coast here and, more importantly, about 2-3 weeks ago, a sail from one turbine flew off, starting a fire nearby. This is a very serious threat, especially in fire-prone areas such as ours and yours. The CFA could not bet close owing to the danger - flying metal, electrical, etc. Here are some bullet points:
Meanwhile, the Victor Harbor Times http://www.victorharbortimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/cant-fight-the-fire/1987235.aspx has a photograph of the turbine which collapsed last week. Its violent failure has caused quite a bit of consternation around here because the sails, on fire, once jettisoned by a faulty turbine, can cause fires quite a long way off, not to mention fearsome injuries and death to people and animals. Until this incident I had not realised, I confess, that the turbines, and sails, carried so much electricity and fuel. The turbines in question are under the 'Starfish Hill Wind Farm' banner...
As it happens, while endeavouring a major clean up of my files today, I came across an article from the UK Guardian entitled 'The menaced landscape' by Robert MacFarlane on Saturday Feb 26, 2005. It can be accessed on http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5135838-103677,00.html and may be of interest to the people in Gisborne.
MRRA Says:
Many thanks for contacting us. Great information. Have to confess that starting the email off with an intro about MRRA's 'magnificent website' got our attention pretty fast!! That's just helped make MRRA's world a better place. (-:
Info Evening Re Windfarm Proposal At Dalrymple Rd, Gisborne, 23 November
(14/11/10 - E) Testing by Westwind P/L underway
Local residents are up in arms over testing being undertaken by Westwind P/L for the feasibility of a windfarm at Dalrymple Road, Gisborne. The proposed site is believed to straddle the Macedon Ranges Shire and City of Hume boundary.
An information evening will be held at the Sunbury Aquatic Centre (Blue Room), Ligar Street, Sunbury on Tuesday 23 November, starting at 7.0pm. The theme of the evening is, "Do We Need Wind Turbines In Sunbury / Gisborne?"
Anyone interested is encouraged to come along and hear how this might affect
Your property value.
Adverse health effects from sunlight flicker and high levels of noise.
For more information email nosunburywindfarm@hotmail.com
NOTE: Last May, the Liberal Party pledged, if elected, Macedon Ranges would be a 'no-go' zone for wind turbines/windfarms .
Wind Farm On The Way In South Gisborne?
(12/7/06 - P) Are wind turbines about the invade the landscapes of Mt. Macedon?
Locals around Dalrymple Road are reeling after being told the area is being scouted for wind turbine locations. It seems locals bumped into someone marking up a map with red crosses, and were told the crosses were wind turbine locations. From the map it seems someone is looking at dotting the landscape between Mt. Macedon and the metropolitan area boundary in Macedon Ranges Shire, and in Green Wedges in the north of the City of Hume, with these 130+ metre high windmills, including across/on top of standout landscape features, Jacksons Creek valley and Red Rock.
MRRA Says:
Poor old South Gisborne - just one crazy development idea after another: telecommunication towers, freeway service centres, motels, and now it looks like wind turbines. Does someone think this hugely sensitive landscape is zoned industrial? If wind turbines are about to emerge as the next threat, don't expect to have much say in the matter. The State government decides where wind turbines are and aren't located, not Councils and local communities.