MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan welcomed the decision by Ark Energy to withdraw the Doughboy Wind Farm project, amidst growing community concerns about the renewable energy project.
Mr Moylan said landholders were not happy about the 55 wind turbine project that was planned for 50 kilometres east of Armidale.
“All projects of this nature need to have the complete agreement of the landholders,” Mr Moylan said.
“Impacted neighbours should be compensated, the overall culminative impact must be monitored and the community needs to benefit as much as possible from the community contribution fund.
“It is my view that a project should not proceed unless all of these boxes are ticked.
“The argy-bargy of projects within the New England Renewable Zone (REZ) is an issue I have inherited, and not created, but I am determined to make sure landholders and the community are treated fairly,” he said.
“I want to ensure landholders and neighbours are treated properly, and that the community gets as much benefit as possible.”
Mr Moylan said renewables play an important role in the energy mix but “it’s a fine balance”.
“Each individual project must be judged on its own merits and the New England Renewable Energy Zone cannot be a ‘free for all’.
The 340-megawatt project was withdrawn in July, following a change of mind from some of the project’s involved landowners.
“The project has been automatically withdrawn from the federal environmental assessment process and the associated Scoping Report no longer applies,” Mr Moylan said.
The proposal has also been automatically withdrawn from the federal environmental assessment process managed by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Ark Energy maintains the site is an excellent location for wind energy generation, and may reconsider the project with a different design at a later date, pending further consultation.
“As a result of the development application’s withdrawal, the associated Scoping Report and issued Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements for the Environmental Impact Statement, no longer apply,” an Ark Energy media statement said.
