Winterbourne Wind Farm

WINTERBOURNE WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT

I sympathise with the Walcha/Uralla communities in their fight against a huge Danish multinational company who are intent on foisting a completely inappropriate project onto their locality. I live in the Nundle/Hanging Rock area and this community is faced with a similar threat, this time by the giant French company Engie. As the Walcha/Uralla people have discovered, these companies are completely unprofessional in their approach and have no understanding of what 'social licence' means. In my area they have turned neighbour against neighbour, through devious tactics. The Nundle/Hanging Rock community has been waiting 5 years to have their queries about the Development to be addressed and I fear this is what awaits the Walcha/Uralla community. These Developers presume they can drive their projects to approval by 'ticking the boxes' and avoiding any meaningful responses to serious concerns raised by the community. For the reasons above I strongly OBJECT to this project.

WINTERBOURNE WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT

I live in an area where the community is currently fighting the development of an industrial wind farm, the same situation as the residents of Walcha/Uralla shires. Like my area, the Developers of the Winterbourne Wind Farm have been incredibly unprofessional since announcing their project, with residents still seeking more information on basic issues such as transport, noise, fire fighting, water, proximity to National Parks and decommissioning. The Winterbourne Wind Farm EIS is incredibly deficient in detail and does not properly address the ongoing concerns of the community. The Developers seem to intentionally avoid detail and take a 'tick the boxes' approach in their EIS. Like my area, the Developers 'divide and conquer' approach to the local community has destroyed neighbour relationships, possibly forever.
I OBJECT to this project.

I object to the Winterbourne Wind Farm Project.

As a small profitable pasture seed business that relies on the Oxley Highway to receive and distribute our seed we strongly object to the Winterbourne Wind Farm on the following grounds:

• Traffic and Transport Impact:
During construction there will be 376 extra vehicle movements through Walcha via the Oxley Highway, left at the saleyards, left onto Darjeeling Road past the cemetery on a road frequently used for bike riding, running and walking prams, right onto the Uralla Road and then left at the Showground and heading east to the project site. Not one person in Walcha will not be affected by this number of vehicles and route.

In the EIS the proponent says that there will be little change to travel times on the Oxley Highway. With the number jumping to 288 heavy vehicles and 270 light vehicles per day, a truck every 2 minutes. This demands an independent inquiry. There is limited ability to overtake safely on the Oxley Highway. The developers have admitted to never driving the route, instead catching a plane from Sydney to Armidale when visiting Walcha.

There has been no consideration of health services when it comes to the traffic and transport. Many of the Walcha community rely on medical and health services in both Tamworth and Armidale. Many visiting specialists that come to the larger regional centres on a regular basis. For people to be delayed for considerable times when having to travel to Tamworth for chemotherapy treatment as an example is not acceptable. Further, when it comes to emergency health services, traffic delay will be unavoidable particularly when the Oversize and Overmass (OSOM) trucks are transporting the turbines blades and other large construction materials. Whilst some emergency services can be sent to Armidale Hospital as an alternative, there are some services that only Tamworth Hospital can deal with such as cardiovascular and pulmonary issues. This means that most stroke and heart attack patients are sent to Tamworth Hospital, as are patient transfers on a regular basis.

• Impact on Water –
The developer claims that they will require 150 million litres of water, in the EIS, in a meeting with Doug Landfear, Project Developer, Doug quoted they need 200 million litres. In research with an experienced civil construction company, we believe that this number is closer to 750 million litres. The dust suppression for 113km of new internal roads plus the water required for 119 turbines and the required concrete pad for the 6 megawatt 230 metre turbine. We require verification of the EIS numbers provided. The underestimation in the EIS for gravel and Water is an outright attempt of the developer to mislead the community. Incorrect water number claim of 150 million litres as opposed to 750 million litres required in an enormous error and disingenuous to the Walcha community. Put into perspective this equates to 56,000 x 12,000 litre truck loads of water on our roads.
The construction of 113 km of roads plus hardstands is estimated to require 850,000 tonnes of road building gravel. This is 38,650 truck loads of 22 tonne truck and dog configurations. Neither the water or gravel truck movements are included in the EIS traffic report. This is a misleading document at best.

• The Cumulative Impact –
The cumulative impact coming from the originators of Winterbourne Wind, Walcha Energy is too much for the Walcha community to bare. The ownership structure and timeline of Winterbourne Wind.

MirusWind t/a WalchaEnergy 2003
WalchaWind formed 2004
WalchaEnergy sells 95% Winterbourne Wind to Vestas 2019
Vestas sells shares to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) 2022

WalchaEnergy start with the 700 megawatt Winterbourne Wind Farm project and propose a further 3.5 gigawatts of projects around Walcha within a 50km radius. See attached Cumulative Map

The transient 400 strong construction workforce is too big for a community of 2000 + adults. It will put up wages, rents up, and erode vital services. That will affect the long-term employees and industry in Walcha. There is currently 2 rooms for rent in Walcha. There is no problem with the current on call doctor at the Health Centre but this could be severely compromised with in excess of 400 further transient workers for the next 2 years.

I object to the Winterbourne Wind Project. How could the reader of the EIS be expected to make decisions on an error ridden and disingenuous document that will gravely affect the community economically, socially and environmentally. I outline my objections in the following attachment.

I have many reasons for objecting to the Winterbourne Wind Farm project. I strongly believe that poor consultation processes have resulted in this project being in the wrong place, it is the wrong size and it has the wrong developer, for reasons as attached.

This project is too big for our small community of Walcha as having been an employee of the local hospital I know that the hospital does not have enough beds as it is let alone an influx in population. The project has already starting to tear our small community apart causing arguments between longstanding family friends that has carried through generations, it is tearing families apart and ruining our town. A lot of people feel as if the developers have used this project only for their financial gain by misleading a lot of our friends and families by giving them false information in relation to this wind farm project. In our small town the Westpac helicopter is used for emergencies due to our geographic location and we know that the Westpac helicopter will be unable to fly around walcha in an emergency if this project goes ahead because of the size of the wind turbines. The traffic that will exist on the road I live on due to the trucks transporting parts of wind turbines will be phenomenal and affect my travel time to and from work everyday. I object to this project as I feel it will ruin our local town and damage our community even more than it already has, many members of our community feel very upset about this project.

I object to this project for a number of reasons. Having read the submission by Dr Stephen Debus from UNE on the damage that will be done to the bird life by the wind towers, I find it unbelievable that the project has not been thrown out already by a government that claims to be concerned about biodiversity. I have also read the Noise Assessment - Peer Review by L Huson and Associates ( CONSULTANT SCIENTISTS IN ACCOUSTICS) and it appears that the Noise Assessment in the EIS was deficient in many areas. Why was it even allowed to be lodged? I will support any future class action against this development if it goes ahead.

As a former resident who was raised in the New England region, investment in the Winterbourne Wind project represents a significant positive opportunity to the Walcha community, but also citizens of other Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), and the wider NSW community.

Winterbourne Wind represents a significant investment to the immediate Walcha community. Aside from the direct contribution of $1M, the ongoing estimated $35M for the project's 30 year lifespan will further improve the local amenity of the Walcha Council area.

Construction jobs will bring an injection of revenue into the community during the build phase. This financial support for local businesses will be beneficial considering the ongoing road closure of the Oxley Highway - businesses have seen a decline in revenue due to the reduction of traffic transiting through Walcha. Ongoing direct jobs will bring further vitality to the community of Walcha.

Approval of this project will set a standard for further community benefit funds for other communities which will host renewable energy projects not only in the New England REZ, but also in NSW's other REZs - Central West Orana, South West, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra.

For the broader NSW community, this project will contribute to the decarbonisation strategy of the NSW government's aim of 43% reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. To achieve these targets, action to decarbonise the NSW electricity sector must begin in earnest.

The importance of replacing the state’s ageing coal fleet is exemplified by Liddell’s remaining 3 generator sets being decommissioned in April 2023. NSW’s remaining black coal fleet has clearly stated to progressively close by 2040. Replacing NSW’s coal fleet with renewable wind technology has ongoing environmental benefits, through the reduction of GHG emissions, but also economic benefits for NSW citizens. Wind generated electricity has demonstrated its ability to provide cheaper electricity than coal generated electricity, which will benefit NSW citizens.

Approval of this project will give confidence to developers and financiers for future renewable energy projects - whether they be wind, solar or battery storage - to encourage further investment in NSW’s REZs. Confidence is needed to ensure developers who negotiate fairly with their host communities will see their projects approved and accepted in the community.

Continued investment in wind generation in the New England REZ will provide further impetus to upgrade the poor state of the New England Highway. As more heavy transport uses the New England Highway to construct wind projects, developers and the community will expect an improvement to this link. Improvements to the highway will not only ensure wind generator components are not damaged in transport, but ensure safety to other road users.

I object as I think the project will damage our roads.

Damage native flora and fauna on local properties.

Not enough information on decommissioning of the turbines

Travelling on our roads will become dangerous.

Alot of reports are too old and dont give enough detail.

I dont think locals will benefit from any jobs.

What happens in the developer goes bankrupt??

Alot of secrecy in relation to farms already signed up.

Needs alot more transperancy about the final outcomes.

Local farm roads will have alot of damage.

I wish to lodge objection to the Winterbourne Wind Farm SSD-10471.

I believe Vesta's EIS submission significantly understates the impact the development will have on the native flora and fauna of this pristine environment and reject their assessment. Independent assessments must be carried out as these resources are too precious and irreplaceable, as evidenced by the impact of recent bushfires.

The tokenistic consultation approach made to the local indigenous Dunghutti community is shameful. To not conduct the surveys that need to be done, or to even know what genuine consultation needs to be done, but choosing instead to just 'tick a box', mimics Vesta's disrespect for the homes of so many.

There are too many errors in their submission - how can you state there are benefits to neighbours, when there aren't any!



I support investment in renewable energy having installed solar panels on our workshop roof. There is a suitable place to install these renewable energy factories, and there must be literally thousands of suitable alternative locations. I would encourage Vesta's to look further afield and forgo some of their profits.

We strongly support the ongoing development of the Winterbourne Wind Farm Project as both a necessary addition to our region, and as a positive step towards a clean energy future.

Jenny Mawhinney
“Kentucky Blue”
677 Topdale Road
Walcha NSW 2354
0418 665228

Objection to Environmental Impact Statement: Application Number SSD-10471
Location; 6.5 Kilometres north east of Walcha NSW
Applicant: Winterbourne Wind Pty Ltd
Council Areas: Walcha and Uralla Shires.
Consent Authority: Minister for Planning or Independent Planning Commission

This submission is made in relation to the Environmental Impact Statement Application Number SSD-10471.

Wind Turbines use the highly toxic chemical Sulphur Hexafluoride, commonly known as SF6. This chemical is used in a gaseous state and has been identified as the strongest greenhouse gas in the world. It is estimated to be 26,087 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. SF6 is extremely stable lasting in the atmosphere for over 3,000 years.

SF6 is used in electrical switchgear in supposedly sealed environments however leakages into the atmosphere occur and the world atmospheric amount is increasing. The quantity of SF6 released into the atmosphere has increased with the increased development of wind turbines.

The 1997 Kyoto protocol stipulated the limitation of the use of SF6 however it is still used in closed electrical systems including wind turbines. Industry has a requirement to recycle and neutralise the gas at the end of use. This is clearly not happening with poor control over the use and management of SF6. The European Union has legislated to ban the use of SF6 but not until 2031. In the interim wind turbines manufactured by VESTAS and others continue to use SF6 claiming that at present there is no alternative.

Once ownership of the wind turbines pass from the manufacturers to other owners and as the turbines age and ultimately become obsolete, the opportunity for SF6 leakage into the atmosphere increases remaining in the atmosphere for the next 3,000 years.

Claims that SF6 is not toxic are incorrect as inhaling SF6 can cause carbon dioxide narcosis resulting in respiratory arrest.

What controls, if any, are proposed to ensure that SF6 is not used in Australian domiciled wind turbines, particularly after most of the world has already or plan to prohibit the use of SF6?

Yours faithfully

Jenny Mawhinney

The Winterbourne Wind farm will be beneficial to the Walcha community due to the economic stimulus of the community benefit fund and increased employment opportunities. The project is will also help alleviate the current energy crisis.

I am in support of the Winterbourne Wind Farm. It will positively impact the local Walcha economy, as well as help alleviate the global climate crisis.

The details of my objection are contained in the attached submission.

I strongly object to the Winterbourne Wind project for the following reasons:
• Size of the site (700MW) intensifies impact on our small rural community.
• World Heritage and National Parks’ ecological systems threatened and tourism impacted.
• Visual impact, noise, road congestion and road destruction are inevitable.
• Sourcing of raw materials, water and gravel are another huge unknown.
• Important information withheld by the developer during the consultation process. During a meeting with the Director of the project on 2 August 2022 it was “promised” that transmission lines would be UNDERGROUND. Information has it, that they are not! That PROMISE resulted in us (1) Signing an easement option across a 30m side land on our property; (2) Signing a neighbour agreement on 1 September 2022, following a lengthy and relentless consultation period.
• There are NIL benefits for neighbours of the project. Disturbing effects of sound, flicker, flashing night lights, loss of visual amenity, construction activity, loss of capital value etc would be threatening and life changing.
• Properties would be affected by diminished aviation services with wind turbine generators creating a no-fly zone near rural airstrips and low cloud conditions. No longer having the ability to have aerial fertilizer spreading, aerial firefighting and aerial wild dog baiting is of great concern.
• Loss of wedgetail eagles and raptors, connectivity habitat and habitat for threatened species would be serious and heart-wrenching.
• Photomontages, when supplied, are grossly inadequate and dishonest. Height of turbines are inaccurate and suggestions for ‘blocking them out’ are ludicrous.
• Inter-personal and wider relationships have suffered because of intimidation by invested interests / project shareholders.
• This project has been imposed and is un-wanted! We will be left with a scarred landscape.

As a Walcha citizen:

• Walcha district is one of high-quality agricultural land, NOT an INDUSTRIAL zone. The Winterbourne Wind project snakes through this prime land and borders national parks and scenic country.

• It will have a cumulative NEGATIVE IMPACT on Walcha, a small rural town – including road congestions, road destruction, noise, dust, draining of local resources, added burdens on healthcare and accommodation.

• The developer has presented a FLAWED EIS. Mistruths have surfaced. For example, regarding noise output, amount of water needed, construction details.

From a personal viewpoint:

• VISUAL IMPACT – our property, ‘Ferndell’ (fourth generation), has uninterrupted views of wilderness. Monster turbines will be a BLIGHT on the landscape.

• Threat to the WEDGETAIL EAGLES who soar over the gorge country ‘Ferndell’ overlooks.

I do not want this project to proceed. It’s in the WRONG PLACE.

The Ryde Gladesville Climate Change Action Group are not local residents, we are a small non-politically affiliated group who are seeking a well planned and strong future for the Australian power grid.
The Winterbourne Wind Farm is proposed within the New England Renewable Energy Zone, immediately indicating that the project fits within the development goals for the region. The approval of renewable developments such as wind farms is a beneficial step towards meeting Australia’s emissions goals. The installation of 119 wind turbines will create 700 megawatts of electricity, significantly contributing to the electricity grid. At about 11 grams of co2 per kw/h under wind farm (compared to 450g for natural gas or 1,000g for coal), the topography of the Walcha region is ideal for effective capture of electricity.
We support the creation of the Winterbourne Wind Farm as we believe it is a strong step forward towards reducing emissions at a state level, moving us closer to achieving net zero emissions.

I own and live on rural land in the immediate vicinity of the proposed Winterbourne Wind project. I am a primary producer of beef cattle on this property and provide beef for consumption by the Australian public at large. My property is located at 332 Chinnocks Road, Walcha (Moona Plains) and is identified as ‘SR272’ on the maps in the EIS for the Winterbourne Wind project.

I strongly object to the Winterbourne Wind project for the following reasons:

High Negative Mental Health and Well-Being Impact:
The location of my home and workplace as a primary producer is surrounded by rural landscape and gorge country. Access is isolated, being 30 minutes from Walcha township and there is only one road in to access my property and the same road out. With the isolation, comes peace and the knowledge that I live in an environment with very little pollution which provides me with a strong mental health wellbeing and allows me to be resilient to environmental challenges such as drought and bushfire while maintaining good mental health. Living in a peaceful and isolated location was of great benefit to my mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having the support of good relationships with my local community also provides for strong mental health.
If the Winterbourne Wind Project was to be approved and proceed, there would be a high negative impact on my mental health and well-being because:
• The noise from the wind turbines would create a constant vibration in the peace of my environment, which is something I would find very difficult to sustainably live with. The EIS fails to accurately report the level of noise that will be created by the wind turbines and therefore the reality is grossly underestimated.
• The flicker of lights would be irritating and would increase my anxiety levels.
• The noise of heavy vehicles transporting equipment and turbines and concrete trucks would excessively impede on the peace of my environment. In a quiet location where there is very little mechanical background noise, the level of noise from the trucks would be excessively higher than in an urban environment and less tolerable.
• I live on a gravel road and during dry times, with the limited vehicles travelling along the road, there is some dust, however, with heavy vehicles and an increase in motor vehicle movements this dust will be increased significantly and this will be detrimental to my respiratory health.
• The impact of (at least) 22 turbines being visual from my home with 6 of these being highly visible with some being 1.75km away from my home, will create not only a blight on what is a beautiful landscape, it will also affect the value of my land which in the long-term will have an affect on my ability to live sustainably and without relying on financial benefits from the federal government.

Extreme Negative Mental Health and Well-Being Impact and Extreme Negative Impact on Loss of Human Lives and Lives of Livestock:
The undeniable traffic congestion on the narrow Moona Plains Road caused by trucks transporting wind turbines and concrete trucks will have an extreme negative effect on my mental health as this congestion will increase the time it takes for emergency services to access our place. This congestion will affect the response time for road-based access by rural fire service, paramedics, police and veterinary practitioners increasing the risk of loss of life of humans and livestock.
The significantly increased loads on Moona Plains Road will have a cumulative and negative effect on my mental health and well-being. As the conditions of the roads decline, safety will be affected. When roadworks commence to remediate the damaged roads, times to travel to and from Walcha will be significantly increased. This will also increase the response time for emergency vehicles increasing the risk on loss of life of humans and livestock. Moona Plains Road is not built to withstand the level of heavy transport that the Winterbourne Wind construction phase will bring, therefore, the existing road will not be sustainable and the road will constantly be under repair and for well past the finish of the construction period. Given the time and available resources it is taking to fix the roads after recent long term wet conditions, it is undeniable that transport congestion and roadworks will continue to hamper road safety and driving times for at least 5 years.
For these reasons, if the Winterbourne Wind Project is approved and proceed, I will live in constant fear and threat and this will, without a doubt, have an extreme negative mental health impact on my well-being.

I strongly object to the proposed project on the grounds of 1.degradation of the environment for flora and fauna and 2. degradation of the rural environmnet for landholders, of the visual environmnet for residents and those travelling through this area.
Having lived in this area since the 1950's and seen the effectiove and controlled use of this fertile land for grazing and agriculture as well as tourism, I am appalled at the amount of development in the name of 'renewables' that is being attempted on this beautiful New England landscape.
The number of projects in addition to Winterbourne ( Brackendale Wind , Salisbury, Wind, Booroolong Wind, Yarrowyck Wind as well as the Salisbury Solar Project to name a few) will have a devastating impact when combined, one that is irreversible. The land and environment itself will not be renewable, but a likely wasteland in future years.
There has been scant attention paid to the ugliness of wind turbines, transmission lines and switching yards. Thorough research and consultation is needed to assess the stress this project, together with all the others, will place on land and waste management and those living in nearby towns.
We are constantly reminded of the need to maintain wildlife habitats to prevent extinction of flora and fauna. It is scandalous that expediency (rather than preservation of our heritage) seems to be the case here, when overclearing and overdevelopment is obviously going to occur with the number of projects including Winterbourne in the pipeline.
Have lived the region as well as investing in it I know that the area that will be impacted by Winterbourne is host to koalas, wedgetail eagles and several migratory bird species. Trees have already been impacted by development, dieback has been impossible to stop as evidenced when one drives through the area. This is liley to be exacerabted.
The delicate ecosytem must not be destroyed, Winterbourne with massive turbines cannot but be damaging to biodiversity in the area.
SUsan K Peatfield