The Senate Community Affairs References Committee The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms June 2011 © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 ISBN 978-1-74229-462-9 Printed by the Senate Printing Unit, Parliament House, Canberra. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE 43rd Parliament Members Senator Rachel Siewert, Chair Western Australia, AG Senator Claire Moore, Deputy Chair Queensland, ALP Senator Judith Adams Western Australia, LP Senator Sue Boyce Queensland, LP Senator Carol Brown Tasmania, ALP Senator the Hon Helen Coonan New South Wales, LP Participating members Senator Steve Fielding Victoria, FFP Secretariat Dr Ian Holland, Committee Secretary Ms Toni Matulick, Committee Secretary Dr Timothy Kendall, Principal Research Officer Mr Terence Brown, Principal Research Officer Ms Sophie Dunstone, Senior Research Officer Ms Janice Webster, Senior Research Officer Ms Tegan Gaha, Administrative Officer Ms Christina Schwarz, Administrative Officer Mr Dylan Harrington, Administrative Officer PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Ph: 02 6277 3515 Fax: 02 6277 5829 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/index.htm iii TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ...................................................................... iii ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... vii RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 Terms of reference ....................................................................................................... 1 Conduct of the inquiry ................................................................................................. 1 Structure of the report .................................................................................................. 1 Wind farms .................................................................................................................. 2 Commonwealth responsibility ..................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2 ....................................................................................................................... 5 NOISE AND ANY ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS ................................................ 5 Wind farm noise .......................................................................................................... 5 Quality of life issues .................................................................................................... 8 Noise standards .......................................................................................................... 10 Noise measurement ................................................................................................... 12 Committee view ........................................................................................................ 15 Compliance with Noise Standards ............................................................................ 15 Committee view ........................................................................................................ 18 Setbacks ..................................................................................................................... 18 Committee comment ................................................................................................. 20 Wind Farms and Health ............................................................................................. 20 CHAPTER 3 ..................................................................................................................... 29 THE INTERFACE BETWEEN COMMONWEALTH, STATE AND LOCAL PLANNING LAWS AS THEY PERTAIN TO WIND FARMS ............................. 29 Commonwealth climate change policies ................................................................... 29 Planning systems ....................................................................................................... 31 The future interface of planning laws ........................................................................ 41 Formation of national wind farm guidelines ............................................................. 44 CHAPTER 4 ..................................................................................................................... 53 PROPERTY VALUES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FARM INCOME ...................................................................................................................... 53 Property values .......................................................................................................... 53 Employment opportunities ........................................................................................ 60 Farm income .............................................................................................................. 63 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ........................................................................................ 67 SENATOR JUDITH ADAMS .................................................................................... 67 THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RURAL WIND FARMS .......... 67 NHMRC Council meeting ......................................................................................... 68 FAMILY FIRST .............................................................................................................. 71 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS .................................................................................... 71 Health ........................................................................................................................ 71 Planning controls ....................................................................................................... 73 APPENDIX 1 .................................................................................................................... 77 SUBMISSIONS AND FORM LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE COMMITTEE 77 Submissions ............................................................................................................... 77 Form Letters ............................................................................................................ 108 APPENDIX 2 .................................................................................................................. 109 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE COMMITTEE ........... 109 CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY THE COMMITTEE ............................. 114 APPENDIX 3 .................................................................................................................. 115 PUBLIC HEARINGS ................................................................................................ 115 ABBREVIATIONS AEMC Australian Energy Market Commission AEMO Australian Energy Market Operator AER Australian Energy Regulator COAG Council of Australian Governments GWh Giga watt hour MCE Ministerial Council on Energy MRET Mandatory Renewable Energy Target MW Mega watt NECA National Electricity Code Administrator NEM National Electricity Market NEMMCO National Electricity Market Management Company NPA–EE National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency RET Renewable Energy Target vii RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation 1 2.44 The Committee considers that the noise standards adopted by the states and territories for the planning and operation of rural wind farms should include appropriate measures to calculate the impact of low frequency noise and vibrations indoors at impacted dwellings. Recommendation 2 2.58 The Committee recommends that the responsible authorities should ensure that complaints are dealt with expeditiously and that the complaints processes should involve an independent arbitrator. State and local government agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with planning permissions should be adequately resourced for this activity. Recommendation 3 2.69 The Committee recommends that further consideration be given to the development of policy on separation criteria between residences and wind farm facilities. Recommendation 4 2.101 The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government initiate as a matter of priority thorough, adequately resourced epidemiological and laboratory studies of the possible effects of wind farms on human health. This research must engage across industry and community, and include an advisory process representing the range of interests and concerns. Recommendation 5 2.102 The Committee recommends that the NHMRC review of research should continue, with regular publication. Recommendation 6 2.103 The Committee recommends that the National Acoustics Laboratories conduct a study and assessment of noise impacts of wind farms, including the impacts of infrasound. Recommendation 7 3.99 The Committee recommends that the draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines be redrafted to include discussion of any adverse health effects and comments made by NHMRC regarding the revision of its 2010 public statement. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This introductory chapter covers the conduct of the inquiry and provides some background to the technology and operation of wind farms and their distribution in Australia. Terms