[Greens-Media] O'Farrell's war on wind technology now on even shakier ground

[John Kaye]

O'Farrell's war on wind technology now on even shakier ground

Media release: 25 February 2014

The O'Farrell government should withdraw its Draft Planning Guidelines for
Wind Farms after the  National Health and Medical  Research Council
released preliminary findings that there is a lack of 'reliable or
consistent evidence' that turbines cause health effects, according to
Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

The 'NHMRC Draft Information Paper: Evidence on Wind Farms and Human
Health' (http://j.mp/NHMRCwind), released yesterday, found that: "There is
no reliable or consistent evidence that proximity to wind farms or wind
farm noise directly causes health effects."

The NSW government's 'Draft NSW Planning Guidelines: Wind Farms' (
http://j.mp/DoPIwind) would require wind farm applicants to 'consider
health issues'. In some cases applications would be required to be referred
to the Department of Health.

Public consultation on the Draft Guidelines finished in March 2012 but the
final document is yet to be released.

Dr Kaye said: "The O'Farrell government has been caught flirting with the
wind witch-doctors.

"By perpetuating the unfounded claims of the opponents of wind energy
technology, the Premier and his Planning Minister have damaged the state's
economy and undermined its renewable energy industry.

"The NHMRC's findings should not have come as a surprise to anyone.

"In 2010, the health watchdog warned that attempts to claim that wind
turbines were linked to ill health were not founded on scientific evidence.

"In December 2011 the O'Farrell government called for public comment on a
set of draft guidelines that  were in large measure based on allegations of
health impacts that had already been debunked by the NHMRC.

"The planning document included the world's toughest noise standards, an
onerous public consultation regime, and a requirement to address health
issues that are not real.

"The latest findings from the NHMRC go even further in rejecting some of
the dodgy health claims that have gulled Planning  Minister Brad Hazzard
and his Premier.

"The O'Farrell government should withdraw these draft guidelines before
they damage the state's clean energy future even further.

"Instead, they should work with the wind industry to develop guidelines
that respect local communities and allow the most cost-effective renewable
energy technology to prosper in this state.

"The opportunity to create more than 4,000 jobs and attract $8 billion of
investment is being squandered by the O'Farrell government's hostility to
wind farms.

"A new direction could see the state's annual greenhouse gas emissions cut
by up to 17 million tonnes of CO2.

"The NHMRC report should be one more sign to the Premier that it's time to
end his war on renewable energy," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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