Category: Macedon Ranges

#SpringSt, Baillieu Government, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Napthine Government, Pollie Watch, VC82, Victorian Coalition, Victorian Election1 Comment

Baillieu retirement allows Premier Napthine to dump unpopular anti-wind farm laws

Leigh Ewbank
Ted Baillieu
Former Premier Ted Baillieu, the architect of Victoria’s anti-wind farm laws.

News of former Premier Ted Baillieu’s retirement opens up space for Premier Napthine to dump the unpopular anti-wind farm laws.

“Ted Baillieu was the architect of Victoria’s anti-wind farm laws which cost the state 466 jobs and $864 million of investment,” Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth renewables spokesperson.

“It’s time for the government to show political leadership and dump Baillieu’s anti-wind laws. Such a move would be welcomed by wind energy workers and companies in Premier Napthine’s own electorate.”

The anti-wind farm planning laws introduced by Premier Baillieu include an unprecedented 2km right of veto for householders to block projects, as well as blanket bans in the windiest parts of the state.

A Friends of the Earth research report published in April found the anti-wind laws have cost the state:  Continue reading “Baillieu retirement allows Premier Napthine to dump unpopular anti-wind farm laws”

#SpringSt, Baillieu Government, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Napthine Government, Pollie Watch, Regional Development, VC82, Victorian Coalition, Victorian Labor Party, wind farm 'no go' zones, Wind Farm BenefitsLeave a comment

Wind energy on the Vic election agenda in Macedon

Leigh Ewbank

Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 3.13.54 PMFriends of the Earth’s recent report on the costs of Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind farm laws has put renewable energy on the state election agenda.

The Age featured exclusive coverage of the research report. The Macedon Ranges Guardian, a prominent newspaper in the battleground seat of Macedon, reported on the local impacts of the Coalition government’s anti-wind farm laws.

In addition to scuttling two utility-scale projects in the Macedon region, it’s well known that the government’s arbitrary blanket ban prevented a community wind farm from going ahead in Woodend.

“The State Government’s anti-wind farm laws prohibited our project without any consultation or justification,” said Barry Mann of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group —the organisation behind the community wind farm proposal. “We’d love to follow in the footsteps of Hepburn Wind and build a community wind farm in Woodend.”

The Friends of the Earth research prompted responses from the major party candidates.  Continue reading “Wind energy on the Vic election agenda in Macedon”

#SpringSt, Baillieu Government, Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Napthine Government, renewables & employment, VC82, Victorian Coalition, Wind Farm Benefits, Wind workersLeave a comment

Geelong Sustainability Group back wind energy, jobs in Victoria

Leigh Ewbank

Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 3.13.54 PMFriends of the Earth‘s recent report on the costs of anti-wind farm laws introduced by former Premier Ted Baillieu, and supported by the Napthine government, has put renewable energy on the state election agenda.

The Age featured exclusive coverage of the research report. The Surf Coast Times and Macedon Ranges Guardian, newspapers in the battleground seats of South Barwon and Macedon, reported on the local impacts of the Coalition’s anti-wind farm laws.

These local impacts prompted President of the Geelong Sustainability Group, Dave Campbell, to chimed in on the issue. Campbell sees wind energy as a big opportunity for Geelong’s manufacturers:  Continue reading “Geelong Sustainability Group back wind energy, jobs in Victoria”

#SpringSt, Baillieu Government, community support for windfarms, Friends of the Earth, Macedon Ranges, Napthine Government, Policy Watch, Pollie Watch, The Greens, VC82, Victorian Coalition, Victorian Labor Party, Wind Energy Mythbusting, Wind Farm Benefits5 Comments

Citizens’ Briefing on Wind Energy: A Wrap Up

Leigh Ewbank

On the first sitting day of the Victorian Parliament for 2014,  Yes 2 Renewables supporters gathered on the steps  to distribute a Citizens Briefing to politicians. We were joined by members of Darebin Climate Action Now, Yarra Climate Action Now and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

ParlGovernment politicians are ill-advised on wind energy. If they advisors can’t get it right then it’s up to citizens to brief them properly. Our briefing debunked the myths surrounding wind energy. Collating research from authoritative energy analysts and public health experts, the Citizens Briefing shows wind energy is clean, safe, and valuable sector to develop in Victoria.

Screen Shot 2014-02-05 at 9.47.45 AMOver three hours we managed to distribute 250 Citizens Briefings to politicians, staffers and journalists. Notable recipients of our briefing include Deputy Premier Peter Ryan, Planning Minister Matthew Guy (the minister responsible for the anti-wind farm laws), Andrew Katos (South Barwon MP), and Clem Newton-Brown (Prahran MP). Continue reading “Citizens’ Briefing on Wind Energy: A Wrap Up”

Baillieu Government, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, health impacts, Infigen Energy, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, VC82, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farms & healthLeave a comment

Campaign Diary 2012: Lancefield listening post

Leigh Ewbank

Lancefield is a small country town nestled in the rolling hills of central Victoria. The town’s location in the Macedon Ranges places it in one of the Baillieu government’s designated ‘no-go zones‘ for wind farms.

The township is also located in the middle of two contrasting community responses to wind energy: To the west, the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group is spearheading efforts to build a community-owned wind farm project in Woodend. To the east, Mitchell Shire councilors rejected the proposed Cherry Tree Hill wind farm in Trawool despite the project meeting stringent planning guidelines and being recommended for approval by council planners.

The Lego wind turbine was a drawcard for the young and old.

At the weekend, Yes 2 Renewables recommenced its 2012 community engagement program with a listening post at the Lancefield & District Farmers Market. The stall gave Y2R the opportunity to engage the community in a dialogue on the potential role of wind farms in the region. The Weekly Times picked up on our presence at the farmers market and filed the following report.

Continue reading “Campaign Diary 2012: Lancefield listening post”

Cherry Tree Range wind farm, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Friends of the Earth, Macedon Ranges, VC82, victoria, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farmsLeave a comment

The Weekly Times: ‘Wind supporters out in force’

Leigh Ewbank

At the weekend, Yes 2 Renewables recommenced its community engagement program with a ‘listening post’ at the Lancefield & District Farmers Market. The stall gave Y2R the opportunity to engage the community in a dialogue about the role of wind farms. The Weekly Times picked up on our presence at the farmers market and filed the following report:  Continue reading “The Weekly Times: ‘Wind supporters out in force’”

Bendigo, Castlemaine community wind farm, coal vs renewables, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, small scale wind, victoria, Victorian Coalition25 Comments

Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from?

Cam Walker

The following is a letter from last weeks Macedon Ranges Weekly. Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from? Last year, the state government created a series of ‘No Go’ zones, which block wind energy developments across much of Victoria, including the Macedon – McHarg Ranges. The government seems to think these ranges extend almost as far north as Bendigo. Member for Northern Victoria Donna Petrovich has said in state parliament that the No Go zones were “carefully” selected where communities “on the whole have told us that they are not appreciative of wind farms”. Given the controversial nature of … Continue reading Where did the ‘No Go’ zones come from?

Bass Coast, Bendigo, community support for windfarms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Pacific Hydro, renewable energy, victoria, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones4 Comments

Councils challenge wind ban

Cam Walker

The following comes from the Weekly Times. Johanna Leggatt,  February 29, 2012 VICTORIAN local councils are taking their fight against wind farm bans to the State Government. The City of Greater Bendigo has written to the Government seeking a revision of the planning laws, which restrict new wind farms in parts of the state. Mount Alexander Shire Council requested an exemption from the laws last year, while the Woodend Integrated Sustainable Energy group has indicated it will also push for Macedon Ranges Shire Council to seek a reprieve from regulations. In August last year, the Victorian Government gave households the … Continue reading Councils challenge wind ban

community owned wind farms, Macedon Ranges, Macedon Ranges community wind farm, Planning approval process, renewable energy, small scale wind, victoria, Victorian Coalition, wind farm 'no go' zones26 Comments

Woodend group grows push for wind farm

Cam Walker

This article is from the Macedon Ranges Weekly. Journalist: Angela Valente A WOODEND sustainability group is ramping up its campaign for a community-owned wind farm on the town’s southern edge. Unfazed that state laws disallow any new wind farm projects in the Macedon Ranges, the group says planning laws could change if the residents support the project. Woodend Integrated Sustainable Energy (WISE) is proposing a three-turbine wind farm on land leased for a pine plantation on Fingerpost Road, just south of Woodend. The land is leased by the Hancock Timber Resource Group, which has indicated support for the project. The … Continue reading Woodend group grows push for wind farm

Bendigo, Castlemaine community wind farm, community owned wind farms, community support for windfarms, Hepburn community wind farm, Macedon Ranges, wind farm 'no go' zones, wind farmsLeave a comment

Wind farms supported by Bendigo conference

Cam Walker

This comes from the Bendigo Advertiser, journalist is Risa Ellen, 22 Nov, 2011. MORE voices are to join the protest against wind farm bans after a conference on community-owned energy projects voted to write to the state government over the issue. About 130 delegates from across Australia attended the two-day Community Power conference in Bendigo last week, to discuss community-run renewable energy projects. City of Greater Bendigo councillor Keith Reynard said the participants voted unanimously to support the motion for conference conveners to write to the Victorian government over the wind farm policy Amendment VC82, which bans wind farms from … Continue reading Wind farms supported by Bendigo conference