LEONARDS HILL PROPOSAL
We are saddened to hear the following outcome from VCAT. Overall a disappointing result for the Spa Country.
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31 July 2007
VCAT gives proposal green light
THE Leonard's Hill wind farm proposal has been given the green light by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The project will see two two-megawatt wind turbines, 68 metres high and with a blade length of 41 metres, built on farmland at 2040 Ballan-Daylesford Rd, Leonards Hill. The wind farm was first given the go-ahead by Hepburn Shire in February, despite 18 objections. The VCAT hearing started in June after objectors appealed the council decision. The four-day VCAT hearing, before members Margaret Baird and Ian Potts, found that 16 homes would be between 519 metres and 895 metres from a turbine with two less than 600 metres away. Another four would be between 600 and 700 metres away and four between 700 and 800 metres. The VCAT report also found that the proposal had caused "deep community divisions". "No matter what decision is reached by us, there will be an impact - either for those who have invested considerable time and effort to advance and support this innovative community-based project - or for those property owners and residents in the Leonards Hill community who consider the wind farm to be inappropriate for their area," it said. "In summary, we find approval of the proposal would change Leonards Hill given the visible addition of two turbines in some public views and, to varying degrees, from surrounding private properties. "The noise of the proposed turbines would comply with the prescribed standards albeit that does not mean there would be no noise impact upon some existing residents around Leonards Hill. "Many other arguments against the permit application canvassed by the applicant are not found, on our scrutiny, to be ones that are fairly or properly based and/or justify refusal of the permit application."