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Forum Index : Windmills : Proposed changes to SA Wind Turbines

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Shaz_Au
Newbie

Joined: 31/10/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 11

Posted: 01:51pm 01 Sep 2013

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Hi,

Please read the following Local Government Association Circular regarding their request to include domestic wind turbines as a "development" in the Development Regulations. If this goes ahead it will mean you will be required to get Council approval for domestic wind turbines of any size.

I'm unaware of how our community can try to respond to this issue but I am sure that we all better get building!

The circular from: http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?c=31255 follows below:

------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------
Consultation- Domestic Wind Turbines- Information Requested - Circular 35.1
To Chief Executive Officer
Planning - Building Staff Date 22 August 2013
Contact Rebecca Perkin
Email: rebecca.perkin@lga.sa.gov.au
Response Required Yes Respond By 20 September 2013
Summary Information is being sought from Councils about any issues they are encountering with domestic wind turbines being erected in built up residential areas. The information gathered will be used to support changes required to the SA planning system to manage any impacts.

At the LGA General Meeting in April 2013 it was resolved that:

�In respect of the matter of wind turbines not being development as a consequence of Schedule 3, clause 4(1)(b)(i) of the Development Regulations 2008, requests that the Local Government Association (LGA):

1. write to the Minister of Planning:

1.1 advising that legal advice has been received that indicates that wind turbines, where they are free standing and less than 10 metres high, are excluded from being �development� as defined in the Development Act 1993 by virtue of Schedule 3, clause 4(1)(b)(i) of the Development Regulations 2008;

1.2 indicating that the LGA is concerned that the exclusion from wind turbines as being �development� could cause wind turbines to be erected in backyards in the great Adelaide metropolitan area without any restrictions;

1.3 requesting that the Development Regulations 2008 be immediately amended so as to ensure that wind turbines are classed as development; and

1.4 requesting that the Development Act 1993 and the Development Regulations 2008 be amended as necessary to ensure that wind turbines in metropolitan Adelaide are classed as non-complying forms of development.

2. in the event that the Development Regulations 2008 are amended so as to make wind turbines development, but the necessary amendments are not made to the Development Act 1993 or the Development Regulations 2008 so as to make wind turbines noncomplying, that steps be taken to commence the process for amending Council Development Plans so as to make wind farms non-complying in the entire Metropolitan area.�

To build a compelling argument to support this resolution, the LGA is asking Councils to provide information about any issues they have experienced with domestic wind turbines being erected in built up residential areas (including regional townships). This information may include the following:

Details of any comments/complaints received about an existing domestic wind turbine relating to noise, visual amenity or other impacts;
Evidence that this technology is becoming more prevalent in the Council area;
Frequency of enquiries being received about approval requirements under the Development Act 1993;
Number of applications lodged for domestic scale wind turbines that are defined as development (>10m in height); and
Any other relevant issues.

Following this consultation, the LGA will write to the Minister for Planning requesting his consideration of this issue in accordance with the resolution.

The requested information should be forwarded to Rebecca Perkin on rebecca.perkin@lga.sa.gov.au by 20 September 2013.

What is a �Domestic� Wind Turbine?

A �domestic� wind turbine refers to a turbine that would suit the needs of a residential dwelling or a small business. They have a maximum capacity of 100kW and are most commonly in the 1-10kW range. There are a number of products on the market in this range and they vary in terms of size, height, blade span and blade design. Turbines are typically erected on a tall pole or tower, or attached to the roof of a building.

This consultation is not relating to wind turbines found on rural wind farms that are used for utility scale power generation.

Don B

Senior Member

Joined: 27/09/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 190

Posted: 11:41am 06 Oct 2013

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A "domestic" wind turbine of 100 kW would be truly something to behold, and no doubt would warrant a development application. Maybe even anything above 1 kW in a domestic backyard whether or not it is below 10 metres might warrant examination and approval, if not a full DA.

But to contemplate requiring a development application (no doubt with substantial fees) for all wind turbines is just another example of the nanny state mentality and, specifically, a make work scheme to justify expanding the local government bureaucracy.

What will be next? TV antennas? Rotary clothes hoists??

Regards

Don B

domwild
Guru

Joined: 16/12/2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 873

Posted: 12:55pm 24 Oct 2013

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Correct, Don. The public service empires are duplicating and triplicating most public services and are always looking for ways to expand and they all work on the basis of: Maximise authority and minimise responsibility!

Having suffered a 40% rate increase one year I am past amusement stage when dealing with local gov. Now they want to pay our mayor $120,000 p.a. in Gosnells WA, a job, which was largely a voluntary position.

Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up.

Winston Churchill

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