MOD 1 - Tip Height Increase

Please see the attached submission on False or Misleading Community Submissions

Sharon & Michael Corkery

164-174 Market Street
Boorowa, NSW 2586
3rd June 2020

Rye Park Wind Farm Modification 1
SSD-6693-Mod-1

We fully support the Rye Park Wind Farm and believe it will be great for the communities of Hilltops, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley Councils as it will boost the economy after the drought and the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also provide jobs for locals, will produce sustainable energy and be great for the environment.

Sincerely,
Sharon and Michael Corkery

See attached

The increased height will create significant increases in visual impact which is not wanted in this area.
The increased size will increase noise in the area which is not wanted.
The increased internal road widths will clear more land and have greater negative impact on the wildlife of the area which is not wanted.
This wind farm is not wanted here, there or anywhere.

Examples of Misleading Statements and Information from TILT
• The only place where we found a clear indication of where the internal roads will run is hidden in Appendix G.5 Bird and Bat Assessment Figures 1.1 then Figures 2.1.1 to 2.1.6. Obviously of great interest to affected non-associated residence who need access to these areas but not to the increased number of birds and bats that are documented to be killed by the increased size and reach of the turbines.

• The ‘new’ wireframe diagrams purporting to show the difference between the visual effect of the modified proposal and the approved proposal Appendix G: Specialist Assessments G.1 VISUAL IMPACT (figure 16 from a neighbour’s property) are worse than useless in giving any indication of what to expect. The orange of the approved turbines cannot be seen properly even when magnified and there is no sense of distance.

• In TILT’s Newsletter Edition 8 May 2020 Project Development Layout 1 (as well as other maps) they have Residence 192 as an Associated residence. This is a residence that is vital to the preferred route through Rye Park for all their vehicles because it sits on the junction of Boorowa Road and Rye Park Street (Yass Street). The owners of this property are elderly and have told TILT on at least 5 occasions that they do not want to sell their property but have told a number of their neighbours that the badgering from TILT continues.

• Speaking to residents of Dillon Street and Long Street in Boorowa, where TILT have indicated in their modification proposal that they will be acquiring parts of properties to enable turning of over-sized vehicles around corners, none of the owners have been approached or were even made aware that this was planned.

“I object to the Rye Park Wind Farm modification application and adopt the submissions of Andrew Field and his family dated June 2020”.

“I object to the Rye Park Wind Farm modification application and adopt the submissions of Andrew Field and his family dated June 2020”.

“I object to the Rye Park Wind Farm modification application and adopt the submissions of Andrew Field and his family dated June 2020”.

Submission Re: Rye Park Wind Farm Modification

My name is Jeremy Gibson and I am a land owner at 529 Grassy Creek Road, Rye Park.

Tilt Renewables’ Project Modification has my full support. In particular I support increasing the height of the towers to 200 metres for the following reasons.

The project and in particular the increase height will greatly improve the efficiency and renewable energy production of the turbines, increasing the generating capacity by 35% and reducing the number of towers by 13% ultimately improving the project. This project and in particular the increase in height improves the projects alignment with the state and federal goals of reducing greenhouse emissions.

The reduced number of turbines will reduce the amount of vegetation required to be removed from the Project envelope. Despite the increase in the height of the turbines and the rotor swept area the specialist ecological assessments identified that its unlikely the modification will increase the risk of blade strike or adverse impacts to bird and bat species listed under State and Commonwealth legislation.

The local community and state will benefit with the project requiring 250 full time employees during the 2 year construction and 10 ongoing regional jobs during its operational life (at least 30 years and possibly 60 years). This along with the $2-3 million in contributions to the community directly through the Community Enhancement Fund, benefit sharing for neighboring land holders and land holder payments that will flow into the community, all this would be most welcome to our region in this post-covid period and provide substantial economic stimulus for the state.

Tilt Renewables have kept me fully informed of the potential impacts of the proposed changes to the project, including providing results from the studies undertaken regarding increased noise and shadow flicker expected at our location. I am fully satisfied that the impacts from the proposed changes will be minimal compared with that of the currently Approved Project.

Professionally I have worked a number of years in the energy generation and distribution industries as an electrical engineer. Currently when I think of our energy network I have images of never ending coal stock piles ready to be burnt, huge open cut mines across the Lithgow and Hunter regions, emissions from boiler stacks, and river contamination. I am enjoying the increased industry, state and federal focus on delivering renewables and transitioning away from the devastating impacts and reliance on coal and fossil fuels.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my submission.

Kind Regards,

Jeremy Gibson.

I opposed this project and the proposed changes presented in the current modification.
The roads the project propose to use are not equipped to deal with the increased traffic of both light and heavy vehicles and the changes agreed to by the inept Hilltops Council are not adequate. They may suit the wind farm, but they do not take into consideration that these roads are not there for the exclusive use of the wind farm and its employees. Those roads need to be used daily by local residents who, for the most part, are self employed business owners.
The risk to our birdlife is unacceptable. There are 12 threatened species studies in the Bird and Bat Assessment, one of which is Boorowa's very own Superb Parrot. Every single one of these species is shown in this study as having an increased risk of impact with larger turbines. On top of that, the 7 species of raptors, including the majestic wedge tail eagle, are all at higher risk. As are the 7 species of common resident species. And 9 out of the 10 migratory birds are at higher risk also.
The increased size to the turbines results in the increased amount of roadside woodlands that have to be cleared. These are the last remnants of these woodlands in some places and are vital to the only welfare of our native wildlife.
The increase to the 200m tip height of turbines, increases the visual impact for residents close by and also increases the number of residents impacts purely because they will be visible from further away.

I wish to lodge an objection on behalf of the Australian Wind Turbine Awareness Group.

Our objection is based on the documented impacts to communities from industrial wind turbine developments already established.

We see government authorities continuing to approve industrial wind turbine developments regardless of the very real complaints from not only NSW and Australia, but from around the world.

The visual pollution, the noise nuisance and the damage to biodiversity are the major factors of these complaints. As wind turbines grow in size the problems are increasing.

There are an ever increasing number of legal cases initiated by neighbouring properties to industrial wind turbine facilities who have been impacted during construction and operation. Some of the impacted have settled out of court. Of course there will be cases that we are certain will proceed to the courts and enter the public domain.

There also seems to be so called "good neighbour agreements" to shut down neighbours complaining, and of late we have been informed of agreements with neighbouring properties to cover the devaluation of property.

The NSW Department of Planning and associated departments are fully aware of complaints of adverse impacts associated with industrial wind turbine facilities.

Can the Department of Planning please identify who would be liable for the consequences of adverse impacts arising from the construction and operation of Rye Park Wind Farm if this modification is approved, which would allow the project to proceed?

For the information of the department and EPA I have also attached a recent research paper , " Confirming Tonality at Residences Influenced by Wind Turbines by William K G. Palmer Published 18 May 2020

Submission Re: Rye Park Wind Farm Modification

My name is Aleasha Way and I am a landowner at 529 Grassy Creek Road, Rye Park.
I am writing to show my full support for the Tilt Renewables Project Modification.
The increase of height of the turbines to 200 metres has my support for the following reasons:
The potential to generate more renewable electricity from the use of more efficient turbine models and less infrastructure requirements (decrease in turbines for the modified project by 13%) means a more viable project, and increased benefits to energy consumers.
Environmental impact studies have shown that the height increase of the turbines and the rotor swept will not significantly increase the likelihood of blade strike to bird or bat species. Also, there will be no significant increase in impacts to the community such as visual, noise or shadow flicker. The modification of turbine height will also decrease the total amount of turbines needed, which will dramatically reduce the amount of vegetation to be cleared, thus also preserving more wildlife habitat. The involvement of Boorowa Community Landcare Group to help undertake revegetation projects, also means an exciting opportunity for the community to be involved in maintaining a sustainable landscape for future generations.
The Project will also result in a direct injection of approximately $2-$3 million per year to the local community through payments to landholders, permanent staff and benefit sharing plan contributions providing better diversification of income and a drought proof and post retirement income for farmers and shared benefits
The Project will make a significant contribution to the shortfall in generation that will arise with the forecast retirement of Liddell Power Station soon and other coal-fired generators over the coming years. The Project will provide full time employment for up to 250 staff during construction and up to 10 ongoing regional jobs during its operational life providing increased employment opportunities.
Tilt Renewables have kept me fully informed of any potential impacts of the proposed changes to the project, including increased noise and shadow flicker study results. I am fully satisfied that the impacts from the proposed changes will be minimal compared with that of the currently approved project.
Professionally I have worked for some years in the area of Conservation and Land Management. I have seen the devastating effects of open cut coal mines and the degradation to the land that they cause, not to mention the air pollution from boiler stacks and water contamination in our beautiful rivers.
I am so very pleased to support and encourage the state and federal focus on delivering renewables and transitioning away from reliance on coal and fossil fuels.
I appreciate your time in considering my submission.
Warm regards,
Aleasha Way

Please find attached Submission 1, which further endorses my views against the proposed Modification to the Rye Park Wind Farm.
I hereby reserve my rights to submit further submissions.
John Washbrooke
Owner of Dwelling R38

As per Andrew Field’s June 2020 submission, I wish to express my objection to the project, for all the reasons detailed in the named submission.

Attn Director - Energy Assessments

To Whom it May Concern,

Firstly I would like to draw attention to the completely inadequate time frame which has been set out for impacted communities and parties to respond to this project modification. 15 days to review such a huge submission is unethical and given the complex nature of the submission which could potentially contain incorrect or misleading information is not adequate. I will be adding to my submission once I’m further able to decipher and navigate the enormous proposed amendment. This project modification is proposing to destroy heritage, property, native flora which is hundreds of years old and threatened/endangered species. It is also disappointing to hear that notification has only been sent to parties which made submissions in the original project and not to all those who will be impacted by these changes.

Firstly I would like to point out that as the images showing the impact of this project appear to yet again not to be actual proportions. This is such a basic necessity that accurate drawings and schematics are provided to involved parties and should be independently reviewed by the planning authorities and resubmitted.
The negative impact this project will have on our family farm and the community is huge and it’s appalling that such an significant increase is proposed. To increase the heights as proposed will make the turbines almost as tall as the tallest building in the heart of the Sydney CBD but positioned in native ridge lines with elevations over 750m in some of Australia’s most historic grazing regions. To say this is completely inappropriate is an understatement and the flow on impacts of this project would be disastrous. As a part of the 4th generation of our property at Rye Park these proposed changes are deeply distressing. The community consultation through all phases has been disappointing and completely inadequate.

I will add to my submission in the coming weeks but the below points highlight the initial concerns.

• A 30% increase in turbines will have a multiplier effect which is not addressed adequately. For example at our location an increase to the turbine size of 30% could make 70% more turbines visible. This needs to be better explored and defined and given the grossly inadequate information presented it’s impossible to know how bad the impact will. The extra noise generated by larger turbines is also not adequately disclosed or independently reviewed.
• The 30% increase in size will also mean that even with slightly fewer turbines the coverage of the blades will be significantly larger which means a higher proportion of birds will be destroyed by the project. The brief and biased environmental studies are grossly inadequate, especially given the additional impact on superb parrots and wedge tail eagles.
• The impact of extra clearing required for each turbine given the larger size is not listed and doesn't specify how many trees will be destroyed. This could lead to many more +100-200yr old trees to be removed along with large scale erosion risks which is not addressed.
• The impact of amended traffic routes and the potential for hundreds of trees to be removed to facilitate the transport of turbines is also not clearly identified along with any additional wildlife impacts. The same applies for the widening of roads.
• I find it appalling that there is a lack of reference or independent studies provided to accurate measure the increased fire risk to the region. Australia has just experienced the worst fire season on record and in many cases the only feasible way to slow the fires was with low level aerial bush firefighting with large fixed wing tankers. By increasing the size of the turbines which are located in inaccessible steep landscapes aerial firefighting will potentially be severely impacted which under a scenario like we have just seen this year could lead catastrophic losses to wildlife and local properties. Surely this is a huge priority for the NSW government and planning authorities to get a clear understanding of what increased bush fire risks could be presented by this project modification.

Regards,
Tim

I object to the Rye Park Wind Farm Modification application and adopt the submissions of Andrew Field and his family dated June 2020

The erosion this project alone will cause in the area should be reason enough not to proceed.

I have concerns in relation to the construction of a wind farm in the Rye Park district as detailed in the attached letter. I think the public consultation on this submission has been totally inadequate as i had heard nothing about it until today. I appreciate you taking the time to consider my concerns and await your comment.
Kind regards,
William Wade

Email 1
Hello Tatsiana
This is the first of several emails that I will send you with submissions pertinent to Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm.
I would like you to consider all I am forwarding as we have spoken about I have very strong feelings on spending 100s of millions of tax payer funded money on, environmentally degrading, erosion causing, so called "green" renewable energy industrial generation sources that ultimately cannot deliver power to the NSW TransGrid's already congested power distribution transmission network.
In the submissions I have compiled I by no means have had time to cover every facet of these environmentally detrimental, very expensive tax payer funded installations.
There fore as we spoke about recently I ask that I have the right to submit further submissions regarding Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm?
Firstly I will start with the issues that I see with the Superb Parrot Polytelis swansonii, attaching the 2 articles that I have written for different commercial avian publications namely Australian Aviary Life and Talking Birds magazine. It should be noted by representatives of the NSW DPIE that these publications go international so my information has been circulated around the globe. Actually I found another Superb Parrot article where the school at Harrison in the ACT construction was halted during the breeding season of this pair of parrots. Seemingly TILT Renewables have little care for this birds existence by erecting the Rye Park wind farm?
Regards John McGrath

Email 2
Hello Tatsiana
Here is email 2 of a limited number of submissions I have had time to raise bringing to the attention of your department NSW DPIE three more issues relevant to NSW DPIE even considering approval of Mod 1 SSD 6693 Rye Park wind farm TILT Renewables.
Here I adress Lack of Community Confidence with special reference to the Rye Park Community which was once tight knit now torn apart by the invasions and harassment of companies such as TILT Renewals. TILT Renewals continually cite how they will be here for the long run on the Rye Park wind farm even repeatedly proffering that at the 2 TILT Renewals Rye Park wind farm open days I attended in November last year Rye Park 13th and Yass the 14th, whilst blatantly in the process of selling off their South Australian Snowtown 2 wind farm because they were offered a ridiculous amount of money for a project, that seemingly caused them some grief and probably embarrassment in South Australia's courts pertinent to the South Australian state wide black out 2016.
Then I have addressed decommissioning which as your aware will likely never eventuate as there is no "compulsive" decommissioning legislation for in NSW. One of many relevant points re wind farms were raised with the NSW State Primer when recently resigned Yass Landscape Guardians chair Alan Cole and I met with her in her rooms May 2017.
Intermittent generators that as are wind farms destabilise the transmission grid causing all sorts of headaches for electrical transmission network operators when these installation come on and off generation.
Regards John McGrath

Email 3
Hello Tatsiana
Email 3 here I cover 3 very pertinent issues re Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm
TILT Renewables have never been very effective communicators, even worse at approaching non involved neighbours considering the length of time the Rye Park wind farm has been mooted reference my article earlier on the Superb Parrot written 2007, 13 year is both a long time for non involved neighbours to be kept in the dark, but even so 13 tears have lapsed and the proponent in non of its forms past or present has approached these people. I hope that that message has "landed" home to the NSW DPIE over the recent days? TILT Renewables lack complete genuine transparency, honesty and effective communication skills.
Unfortunately this is another common trend with any wind farm proponent pander to the hosts and neglect to communicate with the non involved neighbouring or near neighbouring landholders-this secretive establishment of wind farms by less than honest wind farm proponents must stop immediately!
Visual Impact I hope that my PDF spells out the hypocrisy of this issue-screening sky scarpers with trees come on?
Water usage from my knowledge a of a few days ago Saturday 30th May TILT Renewables have not secured a water source for the ye Park wind farm project a project worth an estimated $700M? No water and approved?
Regards
John McGrath

Email 4
Hello Tatsiana
Here as we discussed by phone recently when I asked who would enforce TILT Renewables to comply with any directives you "sprung" straight in with "Our compliance team"
The conversation then went on to reasons that I and the majority of the names within the CCd list have little to no confidence in the NSW DPIE Compliance Team.
If this "team" is to be effective they have to be on site every hour that a proponent for a project such as the Rye Park wind farm WORKS.
Then I have raised the issue of another 2 birds that TILT Renewables wish to sweep under the mat?
The Diamond Fire-tail and the 2nd of the 2 migratory parrots this project will heavily impact should DPIE decide to approve Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm the Swift Parrot, the other migratory parrot impacted by the approval of Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm by the NSW DPIE is the Superb Parrots from email 1.
Here I once again address the Southern Pygmy Perch and has already happened re Bango wind farm their unfinished road system ended up in the creeks as a result of heavy downpours when the drought breaking rains hit in Mach 2020.
As before these are but a few of the issues surrounding any thoughts of approval of Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables Rye Park wind farm by the NSW DPIE.
As per first email I reserve the right to submit additional submissions as I am by no means finished here. Wind farms are of no benefit to any community world wide.
Regards
John McGrath

Email 5
Hello Tatsiana
Further to the argument that Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT REnewables Rye Park wind farm should not go ahead is this YOUtube compiled by concerned residents in the Rye Park Boorowa area.
Pretty compelling when you fly over the area TILT REnewables wish to destroy to further fill their extremely laiden pockets with more Australian electricity consumer subsidised cash?
Unfortunately this environmental destruction will not be limited to the Rye Park project but every 1 of these wind farm projects that the NSW DPIE wishes to approve.
Once again the NSW DPIE should seriously consider approving Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT REnewables Rye Park wind farm?
Regards John McGrath
PS With the dominance of already submitted submissions against Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT REnewables Rye Park wind farm the NSW DPIE must already be aware that the majority of the community are not in favour of this project?
PLEASE SHARE THIS YOUtube with your colleagues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J6GNcs_TSo

Email 6
Foreign ownership of Australian Infrastructure
Hello All
Looks like some of the lights are on in NSW Parliament?
Probably well and truley too late with NSW TransGrid being majority owned?
Snowy Hydro owned by Red Energy based in Singapore
Seemingly South Australias electricty transmission net work already Chinese owned.
We are running out of Australian ownership of our own infrastructure?
Regards John McGrath
‘Very concerned’: NSW Senator raises alarm on Chinese company’s bid to build hydro power plants – 2GB
https://www.2gb.com/very-concerned-nsw-senator-raises-alarm-on-chinese-companys-bid-to-build-hydro-power-plants/

Email 7
Hello Tatsiana
As you have already promised I have compiled this very important submission against the application by TILT Renewables Mod 1 SSD 6693 for Rye park wind farm.
Your department should consider this strongly as the extra tip height that TILT Renewables have applied for Rye Park is actually counter productive rather than making their towers more efficient.
I have attached my submission as well as the link to the issues arising from taller longer bladed wind towers.
As above the people from the NSW DPIE responsible for making the decision on Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables for Rye Park wind farm need to consider this very carefully, given the greater number of submissions already delivered to you opposing Mod 1 SSD 6693 TILT Renewables for Rye Park wind farm?
Regards John McGrath
https://www.sereema.com/solutions/windfit-rotor-balance-monitor?c=fglo5yd5&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJz3BRDTARIsAMg-HxUbBjQxsxl8IjM9rz0u4sbCflbKL7FGD_p6o9q9q1ItYbuEShvbUI0aAmDLEALw_wcB

See attached