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Government Refuses Release Of Wind Farm ReportEastern Region MP, The Nationals’ Peter Hall, has challenged the State Government over its refusal to release a planning panel’s report on the Dollar wind farm project in South Gippsland. By The Nationals - 20th April 2007 - Back to News The Nationals’ Energy & Resources spokesman said the 1500 people who made a submission to the panel were entitled to hear the panel’s report back to Government.
But Mr Hall said, despite questions in Parliament this week, the Planning Minister was continuing to evade the issue.
"It makes you wonder, what does the State Government have to hide about wind farms?" Mr Hall said.
In Parliament, Mr Hall drew the Minister’s attention to the project, which was the subject of a planning panel's consideration in early 2005.
"Given that the panel completed public hearings on 6 May 2005, and despite the fact that the planning application was suspended at the request of the developers on 30 October 2006, one presumes the planning panel completed and submitted its report to the minister in that intervening 18-month period," Mr Hall said.
"Will the minister confirm that either he or his predecessor received a report from the planning panel, and will he make publicly available that report and its recommendations?" he asked.
But the Minister refused to provide an answer, simply stating that consideration for the proposal had been withdrawn.
The previous Minister for Planning determined that an environment effects statement was not required for the 48 turbine proposal, but that the planning permit process would investigate environmental issues.
"Even though the proposal is on hold at the moment, I see no reason why the Government should not release the report of the planning panel," Mr Hall said.
"There are around 1500 people who made submissions and presented at the hearing, including me, but they are being left in the dark by this so-called ‘open and accountable’ government. In fairness to those people the report should be released at once."
Mr Hall said the Government’s refusal to release the report suggested that it contained findings that did not suit the Government’s position.
"Again I ask, what is the Government trying to hide?"
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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