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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-10-18 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

WIND FARMS

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: On Friday 12 October 2012, I approved the Statewide Wind Farms Development Plan Amendment (DPA). The approved DPA came into effect when it was gazetted earlier today. I have made a number of changes to the interim DPA I released for consultation on 19 October 2011.

I have made changes to the DPA to substantially address the concerns raised during the consultation period while still providing ample opportunity for investment in wind energy in South Australia. The approved DPA updates policy guiding wind farm developments by:

designating wind farms a category 2 development in the sparsely populated zones where they are envisaged, except where they include turbines within two kilometres of dwellings or towns and other zones that could be detrimentally affected, such as airfield zones;

changing public notification, comment and appeal right triggers. The changes mean a proposal to install a turbine within two kilometres of dwellings, tourist accommodation and zones that could be adversely affected, such as airfield, residential, settlement and township zones, will fall into category 3, and third parties will have notification, comment and appeal rights in respect of such proposals;

establishing visual impact management policies that would form part of wind farm developments including, most notably, at least one kilometre of separation between dwellings and turbines and two kilometres of separation between townships and turbines;

removing policy that explicitly envisages wind farms in valuable environmental and scenic areas, including the Clare Valley, the coast and state coastal waters, conservation zones, the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Flinders Ranges and the River Murray corridor;

introducing policy that discourages wind farms in the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale;

adding policy that requires consideration of the potential impact of wind farms and ancillary developments on low altitude aircraft movements associated with agriculture;

adding policy that requires consideration of potential consequences of wind turbine generator failure; and finally

making it clear that wind farms and ancillary developments, including wind monitoring masts, are envisaged in sparsely populated zones such as general farming, primary production and rural zones.

I have taken note of and responded to the key issues that were raised through the consultation process. Statutory public consultation ran for eight weeks, from 19 October 2011 to 13 December 2011. This yielded 276 written submissions from the public and councils. The independent Development Policy Advisory Committee conducted public meetings earlier this year in Adelaide, Naracoorte, Port Wakefield and Peterborough. The independent committee has provided advice to me on all representations made. The key issues raised include—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The key issues raised included: the areas in which it is appropriate to envisage wind farms; the balance that should be struck on third-party notification, comment and appeal rights; the visual impact management techniques that would form part of wind farm developments; and the potential impacts of wind farms on low altitude aircraft movements associated with agriculture.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I don't know why they're complaining. Apparently they agree with this.

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition, order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I have made my decision on the DPA seeking to balance the advice I have received from honourable members here and in the other place, from members of the public, from DPAC, and in particular its review of the consultation process, and advice from my department. The government remains—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Deputy Leader of the Opposition, order!

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The government remains committed to providing ample opportunity for investment in wind energy in South Australia while balancing the legitimate concerns of the community.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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