Rye Park Wind Farm

As a host of the proposed Rye Park Wind Farm I see the economic benefits the wind farm bring to my family as a way to secure the ongoing operation of the farm.
For years we have faced difficult times through drought and the wind farm offers a secure source of income.
The wind farm will also bring economic benefits to the wider community through increased local employment and increased spending by the host landholders in local businesses. In addition, the community enhancement fund will greatly benefit the local community.
I fully support the Rye Park Wind Farm development.

As a host of the Rye Park Wind Farm I fully support the development of the project.
The wind farm will enable me to drought proof my farm and assist with the forward planning of my business without the worry of having to rely on seasonal variation.
The income derived from the wind farm will enable be to have a guaranteed source of income, something that farming does not offer.
The economic benefits from the Rye Park Wind Farm go further than just my own situation. The flow on effects to the local business is Yass will be huge. Accommodation services, freight services, all sorts of businesses will benefit from the establishment of this wind farm.
I would also like to express my great satisfaction with working with Trustpower over the last 18 months. They have worked closely with me to ensure the design of the wind farm has a minimal impact on my farming practices.

I object to this development which will be built within 2km of my fathers Property (residence 50) and will destroy the visual appeal of the area.
I continue to be concerned about the developers ability to effectively mitigate against erosion caused by construction.
I have been impacted by the noise of turbines surrounding my current residence near the Gullen Range Wind Farm and do not wish the same to be experienced by others.

I object to this application due to negative and imposing visual impact that turbines cause as they are inappropriate structures in the rural setting.
I also object based on the noise generated by turbines, having lived within a few kilometres of turbines at Gullen Range Wind Farm.
When visiting my partners father at Residence 50, I notice a significant difference in how quiet it is there without turbines, compared to our house, where the turbines cannot be seen, but can still be heard. I do not believe this is acceptable for anyone.

I object to this application due to their ugly visual appearance, the proximity to residences, and the destruction to the bushland that their installation will require, with consequential erosion that may not be effectively mitigated.

I acknowledge and thank Epuron for modifying their project to address some peoples' concerns, and thus making this a much better project. But if Epuron can address all of the concerns of the Office of Environment and Heritage, OEH, as stated in their submission, which includes such issues as habitat loss, including tree hollow destruction, and reptile rocky outcrop habitat destruction; close proximity to nesting sites; and fauna strikes, then this can be a very good project.

I object to this development in its entirety.
The significant visual impact of the project, especially at my fathers property, Residence 50, will be overwhelming and imposing along the ridgeline.
It cannot be mitigated through the planting of trees.
The clearing of vast areas of bush and grasslands along the ridgelines and through paddocks to access the ridge, will have detrimental impact on feeding for wildlife.
The unknown size of turbines will have a undetermined impact on birdlife, as the area of the blade rotation cannot be adequately assessed until the turbine blades are chosen.
The current power line infrastructure cannot utilise the electricity that this wind farm will generate, therefore it is an unwarranted and proposal.

Mrs Margaret Arnott
`Hanaminno' 810 Brial Road
BOOROWA NSW 2586
23rd June 2016

RE: Rye Park Wind Farm Project Application - Application Number 10-0223
Attention: Executive Director, Resource Assessments & Business Systems.

I am aware of the proposal to construct up to 109 wind turbines, in yet another development on the Great Dividing Range near the village of Rye Park.
I have many concerns about this proposal but am particularly concerned about the health implications, both physical and mental, for people living within at least a 10km radius of the proposed site. There are too many conflicting reports, and too many incidences of poor health in wind turbine areas to be able to ignore the issue.
Wind development proponents, Trustpower included, continue to quote a study conducted by the NRMHC "There is no causal link between wind turbines and health impacts on human beings". Trustpower need to read this report in full, particularly where it also says there is enough evidence to warrant further investigation. Trustpower also continue to ignore the presence of infrasound and its effects on people, Executive Summary, page 79, Infrasound, even when there is clear evidence from experts such as Dr Steve Cooper that prove otherwise.
There has been a distinct lack of transparency at all stages of the proposal for uninvolved residents in the area, both in Rye Park and particularly in Boorowa. There have been no information days held in Boorowa, and very little information circulated in the Boorowa Township, even though it seems the majority of the traffic is to be travelling through Boorowa during the estimated 3 year construction period. The increased traffic on the Lachlan Valley Way will increase the `black spot' reputation it already has, and there will be even more of our young people killed on that road due to the inadequacy of the road to take what it does now, let alone what it will need to take in the future.
Only one Boorowa business is listed on the List of Stakeholders, Appendix J, Page 22. Does this mean that the Boorowa Hotel will be the only business in Boorowa to benefit from the development?
The communities of Rye Park and Boorowa have been divided by this proposed development, and will continue to be divided by the Bango and Rugby proposals which together will create a combined development of several hundred wind turbines of up to 192 metres in height, and a construction period of many years. The visual, noise and traffic impacts will be alarming!
I request that serious consideration be given by the Department of Planning and Environment of the issues raised in this submission, and that the Department will not allow approval of this proposal.
Yours Sincerely, Mrs Margaret Arnott

Mr Michael Arnott
`Hanaminno' 810 Brial Road
Boorowa, NSW, 2586
23rd June 2016

RE: Rye Park Wind Farm Project Application - Application Number 10-0223
Attention: Executive Director, Resource Assessments & Business Systems.

I wish to lodge my objection to this wind turbine proposal.
I believe the industrialisation of our rural landscapes with turbines dominating the surrounding countryside for tens of kilometres, and creeping into rural communities, is an issue that cannot be ignored. Our food and fibre industries are already under attack from coal seam gas, coal mines and low commodity prices. Our food security is not assured due to destruction of our food markets from countries with cheaper labour. The only thing that keeps some of us in country areas is the trade-off of living in a serene rural landscape, and to destroy this would be the last straw for many of the Rye Park farmers, just so a pocketful of them can `droughtproof' their farms.
I am concerned about the soil fertility decline with cement, roads, power lines and cables covering large areas that interconnect with the wider landscape, and the subsequent effect this will have on flora and fauna, as well as microbial life.
The impact on creatures from the air, from micro bats to wedge tailed eagles, would be significant and is not properly addressed in this document. There have been many reported deaths from existing nearby wind turbines along the Great Dividing Range.
Safety issues such as the fire risk, and the firefighting risk for local brigades, is also a concern. After being a member of the local volunteer Bush Fire Brigade for many years, and having seen how devastating and far reaching a bushfire could be, I would question the safety of all members, as well as residents and homes, if aerial support could not be counted on in modern bushfire fighting.
This proposal has total disregard for the historic, heritage and cultural places within sight of the turbines. The List of Stakeholders, Appendix J, page 22 does not even include the Rye Park aboriginals, only those cosily living in Yass.
As someone who is over retirement age I also have concerns about the devaluation of house and land prices in the area. It seems the Valuer General valuations show no deterioration of land values in existing wind development areas, however it needs to be remembered that these are based on unimproved values. It is the infrastructure, homes and aesthetics of a property that determines the value. A property that is in full view of wind turbines, suffers the effects of shadow flicker, can hear wind turbines, and is affected by infrasound will not have the same value as one that has none of these.
All of the above inflict long term damage on the social fabric of rural communities which interconnect in very different ways to urban communities. Long standing friendships, community associations, churches, schools and the well-being of our children all suffer when a process and proposal is so insensitive to the genuine concerns of the loves of the people who cherish this landscape.
I therefore request that serious consideration be given by the Department of Planning and Environment of the issues raised in this submission, and that the Department not allow approval of this proposal.
Mr Michael Arnott.

I fully support the proposed Windfarm at Rye Park.
I have waited until 4:00pm on tthe closing date for submissions so I could read as many for and against submissions as possible.I am yet to read a negative submission that could convince me that not getting this project built is more socially and morally responsible than building it. I am a supporter of the emerging renewable energy industries ,not just for the jobs and growth they bring to regional Australia, but for their contribution to the considerable cuts to carbon emissions and green house gasses released into our atmosphere by coal fired electricity production.I would like to see an expansion of wind and solar projects in appropriate well resourced areas of Australia in order to eventually phase out Coal burning as our primary source of electricity production.I applaud governments locally and oversees who have embraced the challenges in installing renewables over fossil fuels . The ACT ,South Australia and Victoria all have ambitious but realistic renewable energy targets and are on the way to becoming powered significantly by renewable energy provided by wind farms. Projects like Rye Park Windfarm and other renewable energy projects in the Southern Table lands that are well resourced and capable of generating clean energy over a similar life time as a coal burning plant but with no carbon emissions and no black lung disease are an essential part of our future on this planet .It is our generations moral responsibility to embrace renewable energy projects for the future environmental and climatic stability of our planet.

I support the amended EA for the Rye Park Wind Farm. Projects like this one are essential if NSW is going to achieve it's stated target of generating 20% of it's electricity from renewable sources. The Rye Park Wind Farm is expected to generate about 1,200 GWh's of electricity per annum for 20+ years. Wind farms are essential for the generation of industrial scale renewable energy, and along with small and large scale solar will become the generation systems for the 21st Century.
Wind farms are very complementary with agriculture, having virtually no impact on grazing systems underneath them. The Rye Park region is well known as an agricultural area that is predominately grazing land. The income the involved landholders receive from the lease agreements to host the turbines will make them more resilient and able to withstand times of low income from agriculture from droughts or low commodity prices. This proposal has also included payments to neighbours of the wind farm. This is a most welcome initiative and should be applauded by all. It is estimated that about $2 million per annum will be paid to local farmers from this project. No other development proposal will generate this amount of income for the region, while allowing the rural nature of it to be preserved and enhanced.
In addition to the payments to the involved landholders the proponent has committed to paying nearly $300,000 per annum into a Community Enhancement Fund, sharing the benefit of the turbines even wider into the community. This is fantastic news and should be welcomed by all.
The economic activity and jobs created by the construction of the wind farm and the ongoing maintenance of it is very substantial and will revitalise this area.
I have read most of the objections to this and other wind farms and think that the opponents are making up fanciful stories and telling outright lies to scare people into opposing the project. This scandalous behaviour needs to be called out for what it is; blatant scaremongering.
Small landholders have been told their properties are going to be unsaleable if the wind farm is built. This is wrong. A cursory look at land values around the recently constructed Taralga and Gullen Range Wind Farms shows compelling evidence that property prices have actually increased faster since the wind farms have been built than they did before the wind farms were constructed.
Local small businesses and contractors will obviously be able to take advantage of the increase in economic activity from the wind farm, particularly during the construction phase. Many of them are quietly supportive of the proposal, but are not inclined to participate in the sometimes vociferous debate about the merits of it. This "silent majority" will probably not make submissions to the project and the Dept needs to take account of this as they consider the EA.
There are many reasons to support this wind farm, but one of the strongest is the fact that the wind farm will not use any water as it generates clean energy. Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource as the effects of climate change take hold and the Rye Park area is highly vulnerable to this variability in the climate. Unlike coal, gas and nuclear power plants wind (and solar) don't use any water. Please remember this as you deliberate on the merits of this (and other) wind farms.
The fact that Trustpower have reduced the number of turbines from 126 to 109 indicates they have taken the concerns expressed by the Office of Environment and Heritage to the original EA seriously and modified the plan of the wind farm to minimise, or totally remove, any detrimental effects it may have on local flora and fauna. This is a very commendable and environmentally conscious move from Trustpower.
Erosion, water management, traffic management, and all other aspects of the proposal have been considered and I'm sure will be monitored by the relevant authorities, particularly during the construction period. I note the changes to the proposed heavy vehicle traffic routs and see this as more evidence of the due diligence from Trustpower.
I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AS IT STANDS, AND CANNOT SEE ANY REASON FOR FURTHER AMENDMENTS FROM THE DEPT DURING THE FURTHER PROCESSING OF THE EA.

Dear Sir, Madam

My wife and I purchased Begalia at the intersection of the Cooks Hill Road, Rye Park, & Dalton Road, 12 months ago. We have two children Tom and Emily. At the time of purchasing this farm there was no disclosure or indication to us that there was a wind farm going ahead. It is now our understanding that the turbines will be located within 2km of our home.

Our concerns

Visual impact of the turbines
Damage to infrastructure primarily roads
Erosion and land degradation at turbine sites and access roads
Noise
Size of turbines. Tower height and blade length. It is our understanding that these turbines will be the biggest and noisiest to date
Devaluation of our land
What impact will the project have on our farming business
Impact on flora and fauna
Inaccuracies of maps and roads

Summary

We feel that these turbines only have a negative impact on our farming business and lifestyle. Living within 2kms of this project means that the visual impact of these turbines will be inescapable. These turbines are advertised as being a green form of energy. But at what cost to the surrounding landscape and it's inhabitants? What will happen when the technology is deemed obsolete or the company goes broke? How much money does our government need to throw at these projects to make them viable. As stand alone projects I don't think they would get off the ground. If these turbines go ahead my family and I would support a class action against this project.

As a resident of Rugby, NSW. I would like to show my support for the development of the Rye Park Wind Farm.

Having lived and traveled through Europe years ago, from Southern Spain, France, Germany and England, I was lucky on some occasions to able to see, hear and experience up close the majestic structure and beauty that is the modern day wind tower.

From these little towns to the open country side, I wondered why "we" didn't have these amazing projects back at home. Why didn't we have these to make use of the cold harsh winds that ravish the landscape in Winter, to capture energy from the Easterly see breeze in the evenings when we are not exposed to what can, at the time, seems like an endless scorching hot westerly in Summer. The Wind Farm is something that I strongly approve of.

As technology develops in "ever increasing leaps and bounds" there will be the ability to capture and store (companies are working on it now) more and more renewable energy from all different forms, be intermittent ones like solar and wind. A project like the Rye Park wind Farm can add to the existing demand and be a driver for technological development to lessen "our" demand for fossil fuels in the future.

Bringing in new talent and new people, creating new employment opportunities, adding a diversified income, especially during debilitating droughts, having better defensive lines in the event of fires. These are all positive things that I believe will help our community.

Having moved back to Rugby (where I grew up) from living in Sydney and abroad, I have found there is very little in the way of available employment. A project such as this would be great in boosting the small villages & towns as a whole.

Lets hope this project gets developed to help our local economy and do something positive for the future, something positive for a greener environment.

Refer to the attached.

The key points in Yass Valley discussions with the applicant have been focused on two matters i.e.
· Community Enhancement Fund
· Road impacts

These discussions have been held joint with Upper Lachlan Shire Council and Boorowa Council (now Hilltops Council).

Community Enhancement Fund
A Volunteer Planning Agreement has been negotiated based on $2,500/turbine contribution to a Community Enhancement Fund administer by each LGA (see http://www.yassvalley.nsw.gov.au/sites/yassvalley/files/public/documents/Planning/Rye%20Park%20-
%20VPA%20Yasss%20%28Final%20June%202016%29.pdf ). Similar agreements have been prepared for our neighbouring Councils. The Yass Valley VPA is on exhibition until 29 July 2016 and will be presented to Council for endorsement on 10 August 2016. Council seeks to have this arrangement included in any Consent that may issue for the project.

Road Impacts
It is essential that access to the site using Council's local roads for all construction traffic is brought up to an appropriate standard prior to any construction on site. These road upgrades are required for all forms of vehicles (not just the over mass, over dimensional haulage routes) as the greatest damage to the road infrastructure is by gravel, sand, cement and water trucks. For consistency it is suggested
that the road standards be based on those of Upper Lachlan Shire.

Council would appreciate the opportunity to have input into any Consent conditions prior to the matter being determined.

Chris Berry
Director Planning
Yass Valley Council

Hi Diana,

Apologies for the delay. I refer to your request for Airservices assessment of the Rye Park Wind Farm which has reduced its number of wind turbines since last assessed by Airservices.

Airspace Procedures
With respect to procedures designed by Airservices in accordance with ICAO PANS-OPS and Document 9905, at a maximum height of 932m (3058ft) AHD, the amended wind farm proposal will not affect any sector or circling altitude, nor any instrument or departure procedures at any aerodromes.

Note that procedures not designed by Airservices were not considered in this assessment.

Communications/Navigation/Surveillance Facilities
This amended wind farm proposal consisting of 109 windfarms to the maximum height of 932m AHD (157m AGL) at the provided location will not adversely impact the performance of any Airservices Precision/Non-Precision Nav Aids, Anemometers, HF/VHF/UHF Comms, A-SMGCS, Radar, PRM, ADS-B, WAM or Satellite/Links.

King regards,
Carly

Please see attached submission on the flawed revised Visual Impact Assessment

Attached is my objection to the proposal and my concerns with Trustpower

Below is my original objection to the proposed wind farm which still stands but with the new proposal my property is further impacted there will be now six turbines within 2km and three within 1km.

My concerns below with Trustpower and the new proposal.

* Trustpower had NO consolation with affected properties during the rearrangement of the new turbine layout.
* Trustpower doesn't even have current property owners details therefore have been sending correspondence to previous owners, withholding information from current landowners.
* The project will greatly devalue my property there has been on consolation or offer of compensation.
* I have contacted several real estate agents and the value of my property will decrease by $60000 to $80000 if the proposal goes ahead.
* The new Proposed layout is misleading and does not highlight all changers with the new turbine locations still shown as yellow not blue therefore anyone new to this project would not know the full extent of the changers.
* There are misleading facts the Rye park wind farm Facts Sheet 3 about the amount of direct injection into the local community through payments to landholders.
* I Contacted the Trustpower project team with queries and concerns, was promised a reply
but never go one.



I would like to express my opposition for the proposed "Rye Park Industrial Wind Turbine Power station". The following dot points support my objection and are reason for my opposition:

* I purchased my land with the intent to build a dwelling. As I am a within 1 to 2 KM from the turbines and in the restricted zone, a Development Application is unlikely to be approved if this proposed project goes ahead and I would not be investing in a dwelling that close to a turbine. This shatters my future plans and dreams.

* The visual disturbance and landscape changes brought about by the proposed Wind Farm, due to the close proximity of my property I will be affected with shadow flicker and blade glint.

* According to your Noise impact assessment prepared by SLR Consulting my property will be affected by noise pollution levels up to 35dBA. I would hate to think that my quality of life could be impacted or destroyed by the implementation of the proposed industrial pollution created by the Wind farm.

* Land values? With my property affected by Visual and Noise Pollution and my right to a building permit in question my land value will be greatly affected by this proposal.

* There are too many unanswered questions; who will dispose of the turbines after their life; any confirmed health risks to humans or livestock; who has responsibility in the event of an accident; who is responsible for payments of leases to host land owners; insurance requirements and liability issues; who is responsible in the event death or damage caused by the wind turbine; and the list goes on.

* I have already seen the local community being separated, lifelong friendships built on trust and generations of families building a life on the land have been torn apart from only the proposal. Imagine the impact on these mateship's if the project went ahead.

* I have grave concerns about the reported health issue that have been confirmed from other wind turbine farms in NSW and SA.

* As with all landowners in the local area, we strive for building and securing a future for our children. We try to better our pastures and stock quality by working the land and improving its quality. The introduction of this proposed project will severely decrease our property value and reduce the amount of legacy we are to leave for generations to come.

* Due to the unconfirmed WHS&E, noise and health issues, people will be less likely to work in these areas affected by this project. This will affect the community growth and prosperity.

* Firefighting capabilities will be significantly impacted with restricted air space access and safety clearance distances for ground crew access.

* With the vast amount of infrastructure to take place and disturbance to the land, many ecosystems, habitat and cultural sites will be affected if this project proceeds.

* The noise and vibration will not only affect local landowners and their families, but stock, native and domestic animals will be affected.

See submission attached