MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan MP has welcomed the decision by Ark Energy to withdraw the Doughboy Wind Farm project, amidst growing community concern about the renewable energy project.
Mr Moylan said landholders were not happy about the 55 wind turbine project that was planned for 50 kilometres east of Armidale.
“All projects of this nature need to have the complete agreement of the landholders,” Mr Moylan said.
“Impacted neighbours should be compensated, the overall culminative impact must be monitored and the community needs to benefit as much as possible from the community contribution fund.
“It is my view that a project should not proceed unless all of these boxes are ticked.”
Mr Moylan said that the argy-bargy of projects within the New England Renewable Zone (REZ) is an issue he has inherited and not created but he is determined to make sure that landholders and the community are treated fairly.
“I want to ensure that landholders and neighbours are treated properly, and that the community gets as much benefit as possible,” he said.
“Renewables play an important role in the energy mix but it’s a fine balance.
“Each individual project must be judged on its own merits and the New England Renewable Energy Zone cannot be a ‘free for all.’”
Mr Moylan said the 340-megawatt project was withdrawn in July, following a change of mind from some of the project’s involved landowners.
“The project has been automatically withdrawn from the federal environmental assessment process and the associated Scoping Report no longer applies.”
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