In the wake of wind farm interest in Koyuga and Nanneella, residents Vicki Winwood and David Friswell are calling on Fera Australia to listen to the community.
Ms Winwood and her husband live on a property on Graham Rd in Nanneella, a frequently mentioned area in discussions about the proposed wind farm’s location.
Fera Australia hosted a community meeting on Monday, July 1, to a packed Nanneella Community Hall, discussing its potential plans for two wind farms in the Koyuga and Nannella region.
Ms Winwood and Mr Friswell were in attendance at the meeting, which they went into with an open mind.
Over the course of the meeting, they began to question some of the information provided and the transparency of the representatives.
“When we went there, I said, ‘we need to be open-minded about it’,” Ms Winwood said.
“Not once during their presentation did they mention that they had been doing testing in the area.
“They should have said, been fully transparent, and said, ‘we've had a wind logging machine and the wind is viable’.”
The couple have lived at their property for around 10 years, enjoying its peacefulness with their son and many animals. It is a quiet escape for them to return to from their full-time jobs.
They worry that adding 20 to 25 wind turbines near their home will disrupt their way of life, especially given the turbines' proposed proximity and size.
“These are going to be one of the biggest turbines in the electrical grid in Australia, and this is where my issue is; what we’re applying is the shorter setback distance,” Ms Winwood said.
“What we’ve got here with the location of where they're planning and putting them is three homes, just outside that 1km radius.
“That 1km is based on a (150m high) turbine ... and we’re looking at having the biggest turbines.”
Ms Winwood and Mr Friswell advocate for renewable energy and want solutions for the impact of climate change, especially for their son’s future.
“I’m all for the renewables,” Ms Winwood said.
“But my preference is for a more individualised systems approach for homes and businesses with strategic, well-considered placement of energy farms.
“Not putting something like that a kilometre away from someone's home.”
During the 2022 floods, they experienced significant damage to their property, which they see as climate change in action.
“We’ve lived climate change,” Ms Winwood said.
“It’s there, I agree with it. The reason why we flooded is because of climate change.
“I want stuff to be done about, but we can’t do it at the expense of people’s health.”
The solution, they believe, is not in Nanneella.
“It’s striking a balance and making sure that ... there’s careful consideration around where these farms are placed,” she said.
“I really am passionate about it because I do think there's a balance, and we can achieve it.”
Ms Winwood is advocating for changes in setback distance legislation and is willing to speak on behalf of residents to Fera and to government. Her email is knowtsg@gmail.com
Fera Australia director Andrew Lawson can be contacted via email on a.lawson@feraaustralia.com.au or phone on 0481 234 229.
Questions can also be submitted to the Riv to be asked.