For anyone who has been following the anti-wind farm lobby and their attempts to discredit the wind power sector over the years, this most recent offering might seem like their most desperate yet. Continue reading “Pollie Watch: Liberal MP sides with anti-wind fringe”
Crikey news have strongly endorsed the findings of the NHMRC’s recent review on wind energy and health. The online news paper calls on Coalition to stop ‘pandering’ to radical anti-wind farm fringe groups.
Here’s the editorial:
It’s time for politicians, particularly in the Coalition at both the state and federal level, to stop pandering to the nonsense and conspiracy theories of the anti-wind farm lobby. The health effects alleged to be caused by wind farms belong in the same category as chemtrails, the fluoridation conspiracy and anti-vaccination claims: they’re the preserve of tinfoil-wearers, cranks and vested interests.
The National Health and Medical Research Council yesterday release a draft report showing — yet again — the lack of any credible evidence for health problems linked to wind turbines.
Continue reading “Crikey editorial calls for Coalition to stop “pandering” to anti-wind lobby”
The Abbott government has ignored all previous evidence on the matter to announce yet another review of wind energy and human health.
According to The Canberra Times, the Abbott government will pursue an ‘independent program’ investigating wind energy and health, even though a report by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has been completed and is awaiting ministerial sign off.
Is another review needed? Here are a few points to consider… Continue reading “Abbott govt’s wind energy/health review unnecessary, a waste of taxpayer money”
Yes 2 Renewables will kick off 2014 with a bang. We invite you to join us for a screening of the wind energy documentary, The Way the Wind Blows, on Tuesday February 4. The event will also feature Q&A with the … Continue reading EVENT: ‘The Way the Wind Blows’ film screening and director Q&A
The contrast between the Cherry Tree Range and Coonooer Bridge wind farms detailed in The Age’s ‘Against the Wind’ feature article is telling.
It shows us that when the anti-wind campaign comes to town, there’s fear and division. And when they don’t, there’s civil deliberation of wind farm proposals and acceptance of planning decisions.
Anti-wind farm groups aren’t just dividing communities, they’re costing them money.
The Waubra Foundation and Landscape Guardians dominated the VCAT hearings on the Cherry Tree Range wind farm. While Mitchell Shire representatives stated at the outset that they did not reject the wind farm on health grounds, it was health arguments that dragged out the proceedings.
A Freedom of Information request made by Friends of the Earth discovered the VCAT hearing cost the Mitchell Shire at least $165,000. Ratepayers are the collateral damage in an ideological fight against clean and safe wind energy.
The Coalition government said their wind farm planning laws would empower local communities. All they’ve done is empower anti-wind farm campaigners.
All available public polling shows Victorians support more wind farms. The Labor opposition has vowed to “rip up” Ted Baillieu’s flawed wind farm planning laws. Will Premier Napthine commit to restore fairness to the planning scheme? Continue reading “Tale of two wind farms confirms toxic influence of anti-wind lobby”
The anti-wind farm group, the ‘Waubra’ Foundation, has ignored a community request to stop using the town’s name. For the time being, the quaint town in western Victoria will continue to be tarnishing by the anti-wind farm scare campaign.
The Foundation informed the community of their decision to keep ‘Waubra’ in its title in a statement released late on Monday (16 December, 2013) afternoon.
According the the statement which makes the group sound somewhat like a religious cult, “The name Waubra Foundation is established and is revered by victims of wind projects worldwide.” What was their rationale for ignoring the community? They say a name change would “halt their momentum”–probably a good thing given the lack of evidence supporting their claims of a wind turbine noise disease and the impact of fear mongering.
How has the Waubra community responded to the news? Continue reading “Request Denied – Locals react to anti-wind group’s decision to keep name”
The anti-wind farm group, the Waubra Foundation, have rejected a community request to stop using the town’s name.
The petition signed by 316 residents and people with strong links to the town was delivered to the Foundation in November. The petition shows the community has made strong attempt to reclaim their name.
“Now Waubra Foundation has decided to ignore the petition, it’s time for politicians to throw their weight behind the local push to reclaim Waubra from anti-wind farm campaigners,” said Leigh Ewbank, Friends of the Earth’s renewable energy spokesperson.
“Waubra Foundation office holders live between 122-793km from Waubra. Such vast distances make a mockery of their use of the town’s name. If the Foundation won’t respect the wishes of locals, then that leaves politicians to intervene.”
“Does Premier Denis Napthine think it’s acceptable for an anti-wind farm campaign group to co-opt a town’s name for their own ideological purposes?” Continue reading “Time for politicians to back Waubra townfolk after anti-wind group ignores community petition to reclaim name”
Senator John Madigan is well-known for his anti-wind farm crusade. The Senator was lauded by the fringe website Stop These Things as a key speaker at an anti-wind farm rally that flopped in Canberra last June.
Earlier this week, Senator Madigan received a visit from representatives of the Waubra community who are calling on the anti-wind lobby group, the ‘Waubra’ Foundation, to give their town’s name back.
The real Waubra community hand delivered Senator Madigan a copy of the 300-strong petition supporting the case for reclaiming the name.
“We are pleased that the Senator listened to our plea and understood how strongly we feel about Waubra’s good name,” said Waubra resident Kerryn Gallagher. “We are passionate about our town and it hurts when this group drags our name through the mud.” Continue reading “Pollie Watch: Petition to reclaim Waubra name hand delivered to Sen Madigan”
“So I could set myself up as the organisation to prevent Football Withdrawal Syndrome and apply for DGR status? And you would have no basis in which to reference whether that is an illness or not?” – Senator Richard DiNatale … Continue reading Pollie Watch: Victorian Senator shines a light on dodgy anti-wind farm group
On 1 November 2013, the Waubra community ramped up its campaign to reclaim its name from an anti-wind farm lobby group. They sent an petition of 316 signatures, including 179 from the local area, to the Waubra Foundation asking them to stop using the town’s name.
More than two weeks on and the Waubra community are still waiting for a formal response. This is despite the fact that foundation chief executive Sarah Laurie has acknowledged the petition during a radio interview.
Waubra residents are, quite rightly, disappointed by the foundation’s silence.
“The Waubra community is passionate to have our name back and we’re very determined to see this process through,” said local resident, Karen Molloy.
“After such a groundswell of support from the Waubra community, we’re disappointed at the lack of a formal response from the foundation to our request.” Continue reading “Waubra Wednesday #10 – Community ignored by anti-wind farm group”
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