Verge wrote on Dec 6
th, 2010 at 10:07am:
buzzanddidj wrote on Dec 5
th, 2010 at 9:53pm:
And the NEXT back-flip is ...
THE Baillieu government has conceded its
controversial wind farm policy is powerless to control the biggest expansion of wind energy in Victoria's history, with 1322 new turbines planned across 28 approved developments.
Before the Brumby government lost office, embattled planning minister Justin Madden approved about $5 billion of wind energy projects. If all farms go ahead, Victoria will have eight times its current wind generation capacity, from 427 megawatts to 3619 megawatts, equivalent to two Latrobe Valley brown-coal power stations.
Under the Coalition's wind farm election policy, welcomed by anti-wind farm campaigners, residents can veto a development if turbines are less than two kilometres from their home. Planning authority was also given back to local councils.When the policy was released in June, the wind industry said it would kill off investment.
But in a concession likely to disappoint local anti-wind farm groups,
new Planning Minister Matthew Guy told The Sunday Age that although several of the approved farms were contentious, the Coalition would not retrospectively apply its policies to the 28 wind farms already holding planning approvals. Such a move, he said, would create serious risks for business in Victoria.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/energy-smart/ill-wind-for-antiturbine-push-...The better slow down
They'll run out of back-flip materiel before the new parliament sits
You cant apply legislation retrospectivley, you know that.
He CAN, but he WON'T ....
Because he's come to realise, on examining the figures, that the renewable energy sector is a potential "gold-mine" for Victoria
I await the day he hands over the decision making process to local councils
A power they don't want
THE state opposition is facing a barrage of criticism over a new wind-farm policy that industry and councils say will shut down a vital part of the Victorian renewable energy sector.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu announced yesterday that under a Coalition government local councils would be given full control over the wind farm approval process.
Advertisement: Story continues below Currently decisions about big wind farms are made by the state government.
The Coalition policy also includes:
■ A ban on wind farms in state and national parks, tourist areas and growth corridors, including Wilsons Promontory, the Dandenong Ranges and the Great Ocean Road.
■ Compensation for landowners whose properties are within one kilometre of existing wind farms.
■ No new wind turbines to be built within two kilometres of homes.
Mr Baillieu rejected suggestions his policy would kill the industry. ''We're supportive of renewable energy. We're not seeking to prevent applications, we're seeking to ensure that those who have interests have a say,'' he said.
But the Municipal Association of Victoria said councils did not always want to control wind-farm planning decisions. President Bill McArthur said councils often lacked the expertise to make informed decisions.Planning Minister Justin Madden said the Coalition policy was ''bizarre''.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/libs-windfarm-plan-to-cost-jobs-20100513-v1rn....