In September, independent filmmaker Neil Barrett released a short documentary presenting the views of people living near one of Australia’s largest wind farms, located in Waubra, Victoria.

The personal accounts Mr Barrett documents in The Way the Wind Blows demonstrates there is strong support for the wind farm within the Waubra community. The personal accounts tell a positive story and challenge the myths that have emerged about wind energy.

David Clarke is a councillor and Landcare volunteer who neighbours the Waubra wind farm. “We need to do something about our carbon footprint,” said Councillor Clake, “and to me [the wind farm] is a very logical thing to do.”

Clarke is right on this measure: The Waubra wind farm produces enough clean electricity for 143,000 households, more than enough to power Ballarat. The farm’s 128 wind turbines offset a massive 635,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year which would have been generated by burning coal in the LaTrobe Valley. 

Clarke covers all the key issues surrounding the wind farm, from how the project has “broadened the economic base of the community” to noise and the activities of anti-wind farm campaign groups.

In relation to the latter, Clarke says the ‘Waubra Foundation‘, has “taken the light on what Waubra is. It has painted a picture of of Waubra that may be true for a small number of people but certainly isn’t reflective of the whole community.” David’s wide Peta agrees. “…[T]he people in the Waubra Foundation purport to speak on behalf of the whole community and I just don’t think that reflects the reality,” she adds.

What else does David Clarke have to say about neighbouring one of Australia’s largest wind farms?… Watch the video below to find out.