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Public Comment Sought On Wind Energy Development Policy

Latrobe City Council Has Drafted A Policy To Provide Guidance For Wind Energy Developments Within Its Community.

By Latrobe City - 1st June 2007 - Back to News

The draft policy considers a range of issues and matters associated with the development of wind energy facilities and infrastructure.

Latrobe City’s manager City Planning and Development, Carol Jeffs, said that with the threat of climate change, the use of alternative energy technology to fossil fuels and hydro electricity has been growing across Australia, with a particular increase identified in Victoria.

"Wind energy is an alternative clean and renewable energy source that has become prominent and popular of late, although the cost of establishing these facilities is currently limited without the support of government policy and incentives," Ms Jeffs explained.

"As Latrobe City is a major provider of fossil fuel based electricity to the national grid, potential interest exists for the development of renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines. Whilst Latrobe City does not contain wind characteristics normally associated with the development of wind farms, government policy and incentives, improving technology and the potential to link directly with the electricity grid may see developments of this type being proposed within the municipality.

"In Victoria, a planning permit is required to use and develop land for the purposes of a wind energy facility. While the state government decides planning permits for proposals that are 30MW or greater (approximately fifteen turbines on average); smaller facilities require planning approval from municipal councils.

"Latrobe City Council has identified the need to develop a policy to provide guidance for wind energy developments within its community. The aim of the policy is to ensure that development applications are guided by clear and concise guidelines that protect the diverse environmental, socio-cultural, economic and landscape values of the municipality," Ms Jeffs said.

"The sorts of issues that influence a policy might be the potential effect of wind energy facilities on agricultural sustainability, as a drawcard or detriment to tourism, as a factor in the visual landscape, as an impediment to the protection of native vegetation or heritage, or on liveability."

Ms Jeffs said that Latrobe City’s draft wind energy development policy, currently released for public comment, examines and considers a range of issues and matters associated with the development of wind energy facilities and infrastructure, with an examination of the opportunities and constraints with the technology.

Comment on the Draft Latrobe City Wind Energy Development Policy should be made in writing to Latrobe City Council, PO Box 264, Morwell 3840; and should be forwarded by Friday 29 June 2007.

Copies of the Draft Latrobe City Wind Energy Development Policy and Position Paper are available from council’s service centres in Moe, Morwell and Traralgon; or on council’s website www.latrobe.vic.gov.au. For further information contact the manager City Planning and Development, Carol Jeffs, telephone 1300 367 700.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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