As reported in the Daily Telegraph on August 6, Farmers are reportedly being offered $50,000 to allow wind farms near their properties. These offers have been made to people living within 2km of the wind farms. The wind farm, proposed by Squadron Energy, is looking to install ninety 270m tall turbines and is making offers to locals, particuarly a Bowning farmer.
The Bookham farmer has reportedly received a visit from Squadron Energy, who flagged he was likely eligible for an ongoing payment plan based on the proposed area of the project.
Thirteen of the turbines are between 1.7km and 3.4km of the residents house, with each structure carrying $2,000 per year in compensation. Another 28 turbines range between 3.4km and 5.2km from his front door — meaning he would be paid another $1,000 each. This totals to $54,000 a year for at least two decades. The agreement also grants permission for noise similar to that of a fridge to be produced by the turbines with monitoring included.
The resident said, “That level of disturbance is fine during the day but would easily wake you up at night. I don’t want money. I just want them as far away as possible.” He is now attempting to have the wind farm reduced in size and pushed back.
The company are attempting to build more than 20 green energy projects across the country, said it was actively consulting with local landowners in order to provide an opportunity for neighbours to share in the financial benefit of the development.
Squadron said it’s also not uncommon to alter plans and turbine locations to address any concerns from neighbours about visual impacts. The Bookham resident said land value and visual impacts were his primary concerns, but he “couldn’t get a straight answer” on any looming changes to his insurance policy.
“I am covered for public liability of $20 million in the event that a fire breaks out on my place and burns the neighbours’ property. But that doesn’t take into account potential damage to nearby renewable energy infrastructure. No one can explain that to me.”
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