THE Senate Inquiry into Wind Turbines handed down its recommendations last week, with its findings critical of the way the wind industry has been regulated.
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The Select Committee Inquiry into Wind Turbines tabled its report in the Senate on August 3.
It contained 12 recommendations.
Among them is a recommendation that an independent Scientific Committee be established to conduct research into the possible adverse impacts and health risks associated with wind turbines.
This committee would be tasked to develop a single national acoustic standard on audible noise from wind turbines, as well as develop a national acoustic standard on infrasound, low frequency sound and vibration from them.
The Inquiry proposed that National Windfarm Guidelines be developed to cover the following aspects of wind turbine projects:
-minimum buffer zones to nearby residences
-standards for visual and landscape impacts
-aircraft safety and lighting
-indigenous heritage
-birds and bats
-shadow flicker and blade glint
-electromagnetic interference, and
-fire risk.
Liberal Democrat Senator for NSW David Leyonhjelm said the Inquiry’s findings were confirmation that regulation of the wind industry needed to change.
“It is abundantly clear from the evidence of regulators, the community, local councils and wind farm operators that the status quo is untenable,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
“There are glaring planning and compliance deficiencies, plus growing evidence that infrasound and low frequency sound from wind turbines is having an adverse health impact on some people who live in the vicinity of wind farms.”
The Inquiry recommended there be a requirement for wind farms to comply with the national standards in order to be eligible to continue to receive Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s).
It also recommended that State Environment Protection Authorities be responsible for the monitoring and compliance of wind turbines rather than local councils.
Senator Leyonhjelm said the report showed there is a problem with the wind industry, not renewables such as solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass.
“There are potentially just as many jobs in these and nobody living close to them is getting sick.
Labor’s enthusiasm for renewables needs to incorporate some compassion for those being hurt,” he said.
