MP REQUESTS MORE TIME FOR WALCHA TO RESPOND TO WIND PROPOSAL

Tuesday, 29 November 2022

 

MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today called on the NSW Department of Planning to extend the public exhibition period for the proposed Winterborne Windfarm near Walcha, the largest windfarm project ever put forward for the region.

 

Mr Marshall has formally requested the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for Winterborne be kept on public exhibition for another month, until 15 January 2023, to allow the Walcha community to properly respond to the Department with submissions.

 

“This is the largest wind farm proposal our region has seen yet and the community is only being given one month to digest the EIS and prepare submissions in response – it simply isn’t enough time.

 

“The EIS document is large and detailed, with 23 separate attachments, all tolled around 1,000 pages which has to be read, understood and responded to.

 

“The windfarm proponent has had years to compile its EIS but to expect the community to deal with it properly within a month, is nonsensical.

 

“Giving the community an extra month is not too much to ask, but it will allow locals to respond with better quality submissions and give the Department a much better sense of local views, questions and concerns, which is the purpose of the public exhibition period and sure what the Department wants to see.”

 

The Winterborne Windfarm proposes to construct up to 119 turbines of a blade tip height of 230 metres near Walcha.

 

Mr Marshall has asked the Minister for Planning to require the Department to extend the exhibition period.

 

As it stands, the community has until 15 December to respond to the Winterborne Windfarm EIS.

Recent Articles

UNIVERSITY LIGHTS UP WITH $425,000 BOOST FOR BELLEVUE OVAL

13th May 2024

Photo caption: Celebrating news of a $425,000 State Government grant for SportUNE to install new lighting at Bellevue Oval,... Read More

NEW-LOOK BITUMEN SEALED HORTON ROAD OFFICIALLY OPENED

13th May 2024

Photo caption: Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, and Gwydir Shire Mayor John Coulton officially opening the Horton Road... Read More

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE HISTORIC ROCKY RIVER PUBLIC SCHOOL

10th May 2024

Thursday, 9 May 2024 NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is calling on the State Government to take urgent action to... Read More