Locals rally against Neoen’s $500m wind and solar project in Crystal Brook
A WIND farm featuring 240m-high turbines near Crystal Brook will dominate the Flinders Ranges’ natural environment, create health problems and fragment animal habitats, locals say.
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A WIND farm featuring 240m-high turbines near Crystal Brook will dominate the Flinders Ranges’ natural environment, create health problems and fragment animal habitats, locals say.
Neoen Australia’s $500 million renewable energy project will feature 26 turbines in a 125MW wind farm, a 150MW solar farm and lithium-ion battery storage.
More than 260 residents have responded to public consultation about the project, to cover primary production land, about 3.5km from Crystal Brook.
The State Commission Assessment Panel this week met in Port Pirie to hear verbal submissions from about 40 community members.
Beetaloo Valley woman Kirstie Jamieson said just one local spoke in support of the plans. “Crystal Brook is the gateway to the Flinders Ranges and it’s just something that will dominate the landscape as you approach the Flinders,” Ms Jamieson told The Advertiser.
“If a turbine is a quarter of a kilometre high and there’s 26 of them in your face, it’s a pretty stressful thing to face.”
Ms Jamieson was also concerned about noise impacts.
The State Commission Assessment Panel expects to make a recommendation to Planning Minister Stephan Knoll by the end of the month, on whether to approve the project.
Anne Beinke, who also spoke against the project, was worried about habitat fragmentation, the turbines’ health impacts and their effect on the region’s tourism industry.
“We’ve already got people who come to the area and talk about the proliferation of the wind farms,” Ms Beinke said.
Resident John Birrell said of the 264 public submissions to the panel, only 15 supported the plans.
Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez said his company cut the number of turbines in half to ensure a “generous buffer” between the project site and Flinders Ranges. The project would create more than 200 jobs during construction and another dozen permanent ones after it was complete.
“We will also create an $80,000-per-year community fund, which will be allocated by local community leaders to community projects that drive environmental and social change,” Mr Woitiez said.
He said the project met or exceeded all SA planning guidelines.
“We consider very seriously all impacts our developments may have on the Crystal Brook community and the surrounding ecosystem, and will work closely with our partners to alleviate them.”
What do you think of the plans? Leave your comment below.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au