PURPOSE
ARTIST IMPRESSION | NOTE: TURBINES NOT CORRECT HEIGHT
PROTECT THE COPPABELLA HILLS
The approved 75 x 171 metre turbines would have a dramatic and adverse impact on the landscape and will be visible at distances of 20 kms.
This Industrial site has always been a Marginal project, first developed in 2007-8 the entire Yass Valley project was recommended for refusal in 2015; a precedence was set in 2016 when the incoming Minister for Planning the Hon Rob Stokes MP split the formerly larger project and approved the Western Coppabella precincts, permitting the Whitefield Road to remain as the access road to allow for the project to extend to the original proposal at a later time.
The project is ‘fluid’, as 70% of the Turbines require micro siting; the Proponents, Goldwind finally concede the ‘approved’ 99M transmission line cannot transmit
the intermittent power generated by the larger turbines (when the wind is blowing) to the Grid; now requiring a 39 km rebuild of the 99M, the 9R0 at a cost of $40 million, paid for as Rent over the lifetime of the project; as there is no capacity to accept any further power a new step up 132/332 transformer is also required, an approx cost of $40 million
The impact of the rebuild of the 99M on additional adjoining landowners, potentially destroying bio security regulations, is distressing and many are also impacted by the proposed Hume Link 500KV line.
THE HISTORY OF THE YASS VALLEY WIND FARM
First developed by Origin in 2007-8; purchased by Epuron in 2009
The DPE recommended the entire Yass Valley Wind Farm be REFUSED on the 5 – 1- 15; EPURON re referred the entire project during 2015 (without consultations) the DPE under the incoming Minister Rob Stokes , set a precedent and ‘split’ the project – ( without any consultations) recommending to PAC to only approve the 79 Turbines on the Western portion of the project on the 5 -2-16, insisting the residents could cope with the visual impact and the noise and health impacts would be negligible. Allowing the WHITEFIELD ROAD to remain as the access road to the entire project –to allow the link back to the eastern Marilba Precinct at a later time.
The PAC approved the western portion, the Coppabella Precincts on the 30-3-16.
WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS
The PAC received an Apparent Breach of Code of Conduct from the Auditor General in January 2017-- re: Decisions made during 2016 – No Inquiry ??
GOLDWIND purchased the entire project in February 2017, immediately applied for VARIATION TO CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO APPROVAL; with Approved Action: The Construction and Operation and eventual decommissioning of a WIND FARM of up to 126 TURBINES , this would allow access back to the Marilba Precinct for a further extension of the project.
GOLDWIND then made application for a significant modification, increasing the height of the Turbines from 150 to 171 metres and Blade length to 70 metres.
The DPE in 2018 (Minister Anthony Roberts) then recommended the proposed modification of the Coppabella Wind Farm to the new IPC for approval---completely ignoring the 85 submissions lodged OBJECTING to the project.
The IPC, completely ignoring the impassioned speakers and not bothering to look at the short power point presentation at the Public forum held in Yass, followed by a site visit accompanied by the Proponent the following day in November 2018, APPROVED the Modification on the 10th December 2018. The proposed NSW Government review of the IPC in September 2019, has not been disclosed.
The approval granted was to connect 75 Turbines to the Grid via the existing 99M transmission line by re appointed (Minister Rob Stokes); the Proponent finally conceded the 99M is not sufficient to support the Grid and are now financing TransGrid to rebuild a 39 km double circuit transmission line, the 9R0 and construct a new transformer at the Yass TransGrid Site at a cost of $40 million. The new 9R0 line was NOT the approved connection to the Grid. TransGrid stated ‘should the CWF not proceed’ the new 9R0 would not be built
Goldwind PREMATURLEY CLEARED 3 HBT plus 10 mature trees on the Whitefield Road , the day prior to attending the Coppabella CCC meeting on the 22-8-19, confirming (recorded in the Minutes) the project cannot commence until the agreement is signed with TransGrid.
HOW WAS THIS PROJECT EVER APPROVED???
From 2009/13 the OE&H have continually assessed the ACCESS ROAD, the WHITEFIELD ROAD and the entire WHITEFIELD AREA as the HIGHEST ECOLOGICAL AREA of the WHOLE SITE; and there must be NO DISTURBANCE to ROADSIDE VEGETATION.
During 2013 EPURON had drawn a map to show the access road would be via a private property “Kia-Ora”, as the WHITEFIELD ROAD was not suitable as the access road.
The DPE and PAC disregarded the OE&H assessment when approving the Coppabella Precinct in 2016, allowing the clearing of 49 Hollow Bearing Trees on the highly valued ecological Whitefield Road .
Following another site visit in January 2018, the OE&H again found several area were incorrectly mapped in the environmental assessment and that several area mapped as exotic were native.
The project now consists of variables which change when the construction team arrive on the site; e.g. 70% of the Turbines will be micro cited
The ‘open ended’ approval for the Whitefield Road is a MINUMUN CLEARANCE OF 5 METRES with NO RESTRICTIONS ON MAXIMUM CLEARANCE!!
With the road (approx 30- 50 metres) this would allow Goldwind to clear the Whitefield Road at least a further 30 metres. The environmental carnage from the increased land clearance on the steep fragile Coppabella hills will be irreversible.
The NWFC visited the site in late 2017 and agreed the WHITEFIELD ROAD is NOT a suitable access road and the Whitefield Road and Coppabella South Precinct should be removed from the project. There are two alternate access roads—the Berremangra Road, wider, sealed and not a tree to be destroyed ; the most suitable entrance is directly from the highway onto a Hosts property, this access would be less costly to the Proponents as there would not be any restrictions or expenses incurred with Local Council or Roads & Maritime Services as there are no centre trees along that section of the highway. ( Letter/Photos sent to RMS)
Either of these alternate access roads would eliminate the use of the Whitefield Road and Coppabella South precinct. Exposing collusion with Hosts/ DPE in 2016.
The mental fatigue of neighbours and the community is becoming evident by the day; it is appalling, in this previously close rural community, a Rural Health RAMPH Coordinator was advised to attend a CCC meeting in May 2019.
The impacted Landowners/neighbours have NOT received SUPPORT from any level of Government. We are entitled to be heard and consulted.
There must be a MORATORIUM until THERE IS AN INQUIRY and all unanswered questions with this MARGINAL PROJECT and other proposed/approved intermittent renewable projects have been answered. There are 8 W T Projects constructed/approved in Eden Monaro electorate.
Industrialisation in rural Yass Valley & Coppabella Hills MUST STOP
HOVER OVER THE PHOTO TO READ MORE
FROM THE MEDIA
