22 August 2007
WIND INDUSTRY: WHAT IS THERE TO HIDE?

The credibility of the wind farm industry is being put in jeopardy by the State Government’s refusal to release a Planning Panel Report on the Dollar Wind Farm.

Eastern Region MP Peter Hall believes the community must be wondering what level of information is in the report that precludes its public release.

“Is the Planning Panel report on the Dollar Wind Farm so damning that it impacts adversely on the rest of the wind farming industry?” Mr Hall asked.

“Surely the people of South Gippsland and in fact Victoria should have the opportunity to read the independent planning panel’s report so that we can all have an understanding of the issues around wind farming. What is there to hide?”

Mr Hall had been calling for some time for the release of the Dollar report. He said now that the proponent, AGL, had decided to abandon the 48 turbine project, there was even less reason to hide the report.

“The report does exist, with the Minister admitting on radio this week that he had it in front of him, and although he had not read it, had been briefed on it.

“The minister curiously described it as a ‘draft report’.   I have never heard of a planning panel producing a draft report, or perhaps it is that this Government has adopted a practice of editing independent planning panel reports before their public release.

“If that’s the case, how can you fairly describe them as independent?”
Mr Hall pointed out that 1500 submissions were received by the panel on this project, including one he made.

“This Government claims it is good at consulting with the community, but taking submissions then not providing any feedback is not consultation. Consultation is a two way process; the people of South Gippsland have had their say, they want to know now what the panel and what the Government has to say in response.”

He said it was no longer just about the Dollar project, but about the future of wind industry generally.
“By hiding this report on a project which has now fallen over, the State Government is sending a message that there are major issues with wind power. Otherwise, why not release the report?

“We can only assume there is information in it that runs contrary to the State Government’s stated aims of increasing wind power.

“There is a lot of opposition to wind power by those communities affected – just what does the Government have to hide?”

Mr Hall said failure to release the report reinforces the increasing view that “open, honest and accountable” is rhetoric rather than reality from the Brumby Government.

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066