RYAN CORNER WIND FARM ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS INQUIRY MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME: PERMIT APPLICATION 20060222 PERMIT APPLICATION PL07/067 INQUIRY REPORT MARCH 2008 RYAN CORNER WIND FARM ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS INQUIRY MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME: PERMIT APPLICATION 20060222 PERMIT APPLICATION PL07/067 INQUIRY REPORT Nick Wimbush, Chair Chris Banon, Member MARCH 2008 Contents 1. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 1 2. WHAT IS PROPOSED?......................................................................................... 4 2.1 The subject site and surrounds................................................................................ 4 2.2 The proposal............................................................................................................... 6 3. MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME PROVISIONS............................................... 9 3.1 Policy framework ...................................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) ...................................................... 9 3.1.2 Local Policy Planning Framework (LPPF) ................................................... 10 3.2 Zone provisions ....................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Overlay provisions.................................................................................................. 11 3.4 Particular provisions............................................................................................... 11 3.4.1 Wind Farm.................................................................................................... 11 3.4.2 Vegetation removal ....................................................................................... 12 3.5 Enforcement responsibility .................................................................................... 13 3.6 Identification of Issues............................................................................................ 14 4. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACTS ......................................................... 15 4.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 15 4.2 Inquiry approach..................................................................................................... 16 4.3 Landscape Assessment........................................................................................... 17 4.3.1 Background ................................................................................................... 17 4.3.2 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 19 4.3.3 Conclusions on landscape impact ................................................................. 22 4.4 Visual amenity ......................................................................................................... 22 4.4.1 Background ................................................................................................... 22 4.4.2 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 24 4.4.3 Conclusions on visual amenity...................................................................... 24 4.5 Visual impact of aviation lighting......................................................................... 26 4.5.1 Background ................................................................................................... 26 4.5.2 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 29 4.5.3 Inquiry conclusions on visual impact of aviation lighting ............................ 31 4.6 Overall conclusions and recommendations on landscape and visual amenity.................................................................................................................... 32 5. NOISE IMPACTS ................................................................................................. 33 5.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 33 5.2 Inquiry response...................................................................................................... 36 5.3 Conclusions and recommendations...................................................................... 36 6. FLORA AND FAUNA.......................................................................................... 38 6.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 38 6.2 Proponent’s general approach............................................................................... 39 6.3 Flora...........................................................................................................................40 6.3.1 Background ................................................................................................... 40 6.3.2 Ecological vegetation classes (EVCs)........................................................... 40 6.3.3 Threatened flora species................................................................................ 41 6.3.4 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 41 MOYNE PLANNING SCHEME: RYAN CORNER WIND FARM INQUIRY REPORT – MARCH 2008 6.3.5 Conclusions and recommendations on flora ................................................. 42 6.4 Ground fauna........................................................................................................... 42 6.4.1 Background ................................................................................................... 42 6.4.2 Ground fauna results ..................................................................................... 43 6.4.3 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 44 6.4.4 Conclusion on ground fauna ......................................................................... 45 6.5 Avifauna ................................................................................................................... 45 6.5.1 Background ................................................................................................... 45 6.5.2 Avifauna results............................................................................................ 46 6.5.3 Threatened species........................................................................................ 48 6.5.4 Conclusions on avifauna............................................................................... 51 6.6 Brolga ........................................................................................................................ 51 6.6.1 Background ................................................................................................... 51 6.6.2 Brolga results................................................................................................ 52 6.6.3 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 55 6.6.4 Conclusions on the Brolga ............................................................................ 56 6.7 Southern Bent-wing Bat.......................................................................................... 56 6.7.1 Background ................................................................................................... 56 6.7.2 Bat results...................................................................................................... 57 6.7.3 Cumulative Impacts on Southern Bent-wing Bats ........................................ 63 6.7.4 Inquiry response............................................................................................ 63 6.7.5 Conclusions on the Southern Bent-wing Bat ................................................ 64 7. CULTURAL HERITAGE ..................................................................................... 65 7.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 65 7.1.1 Aboriginal heritage........................................................................................ 65 7.1.2 Non-Aboriginal heritage............................................................................... 66 7.2 Inquiry response...................................................................................................... 67 7.3 Conclusions and recommendations...................................................................... 67 8. ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE........................................................ 68 8.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 68 8.2 Submissions and the Proponent’s responses....................................................... 69 8.3 Conclusions and recommendations...................................................................... 70 9. OTHER IMPACTS................................................................................................ 71 9.1 Traffic impacts ......................................................................................................... 71 9.1.1 Background ..................................................................................................