Wednesday 28 November 2007

Wind farm community consult: Silverton area the preferred site

Barrier Miner
22/11/2007 Page: 1

Epuron Pty Ltd is holding an open house next Wednesday at the Silverton Municipal Hall allowing concerned residents and community members the chance to express their concerns and view a photo montage of what the farm will look like.

Since Silverton was named as a possible site for the wind farm, there has been support and backlash and Epuron Pty Ltd officials would like to meet with people to talk about the effects on the environment, employment and the impact the turbines will have on the view of Mundi Mundi Plains.

Epuron Pty Ltd has been monitoring sites around NSW for a proposed wind farm and Silverton seems to be the best site. "The good wind resource, the space available, the low population density of the area and the potential to connect to the high voltage power lines in Broken Hill are the factors which led to the site selection. We have looked at other sites like Cobar, Armidale and Bourke but it is not easy to find strong winds and accessible power; we have found that here in Silverton," Epuron Pty Ltd executive director Andrew Durran said. If agreed upon, the development will be carried out in stages.

The first stage involves the southern end of the ranges and could see up to 150 turbines constructed. Subsequent stages may see up to 500 wind turbines operating in the area. After the open house Epuron Pty Ltd expects to finalise its plans and lodge the development application with the NSW Government in May 2008, with construction likely to commence in late 2009. Epuron Pty Ltd has distributed surveys and people are welcome to bring them along to Silverton Municipal Hall, Wednesday November 28 from 2-7 pin for the consultation.

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