The Northern Tablelands electorate and especially the Glen Innes region has become a favoured region for the development of wind power with the construction of the White Rock wind farm underway and the Sapphire wind farm due to start construction soon. 

Local State MP Adam Marshall said input from the community is important as the government makes plans for a renewable energy future.

“Wind energy has attracted its share of controversy, which has delayed or halted investment in this exciting technology,” he said.

“With its new policy framework, the NSW Government aims to put greater certainty and consistency around renewable energy development in order to attract investment while balancing the needs of the community.”

The framework has been developed to address flaws in the draft 2011 wind farm guidelines, which among other things have resulted in long delays in assessing projects.

Australian Wind Alliance spokesman Andrew Bray said wind farms development delays have held back NSW’s rural and regional communities.

“These delays have denied those communities the opportunity to access new investment and sustainable jobs that other parts of the country are already benefiting from,” he said.

“The stronger focus on consulting communities is a welcome step and we welcome the focus on sharing financial benefits, which opens the way for local communities to derive maximum benefit from hosting wind farms.”

“But we are concerned that the visual impact guidelines are too restrictive, planning laws can't be based on whether someone likes the look of something or not.”

Mr Marshall urged those in his electorate with a contribution to make to engage in the consultation process, which runs through until September 16.

“With new wind farms pumping millions of dollars of investment and new jobs into the Glen Innes and Inverell communities, it is vital that we get wind farm development policy right, and right for the long term,” he said.

The proposed new framework can be viewed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say.