WILD FARMS AND LANDSCAPE VALUES INVESTIGATED

16/06/2005 - The Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, today welcomed a report into wind farms and landscape values.
Prepared by the Australian Council of National Trusts and the Australian Wind Energy Association, the report sets priorities for key issues relating to the setting up of wind farms.
The Australian Government provided $31,000 for the report, based on extensive workshops with community groups, developers and government agencies.
Senator Campbell said that identifying issues of importance to communities where wind farms were proposed was critical if the technology was to become more widely accepted.
"Australia’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions relies on a mix of energy technologies, including renewable energy. Taking advantage of Australia’s wind resources is a major part of the renewable energy mix but the location of wind farms needs to be balanced with the values communities place on their natural landscapes," Senator Campbell said.
"I congratulate the Australian Council for National Trusts and the Australian Wind Energy Association for recognising the need for this work and for initiating action.
"The value of the report is that it starts the process of investigating wind energy and landscape value issues. It brings together two very different organisations, each vitally interested in finding solutions to those issues."
Senator Campbell said the aim of the project was to help wind farm developers consult with communities at a very early stage, work through a process to clarify the significance of the local landscapes, and provide more certainty for the developers and community.
"It is a testament to the work of the Australian Council of National Trusts and the Australian Wind Energy Association that all groups, most with strongly held views, were heard and their opinions valued."