1st May 2024

Page 1

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WEDNESDAY min 7° max 19°

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Est. 1864

St. Arnaud, Charlton, Wedderburn & Surrounding Districts

18 Napier Street, St. Arnaud. 3478. - Advertising & Editorial Material - Ph.: (03) 5495 1055; Fax.: (03) 5495 1937. Email: ncn@iinet.net.au Published weekly.

$2.00

WEDNESDAY MAY 1st 2024.

Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. VAC 4217.

Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.

(Incl. GST)

Residents urged to do their homework about the wind farm proposal MANY landholders between Avoca and Stuart Mill have been contacted by Pacific Blue Energy Company to be host to a proposed wind farm in that area. They are offering $50,000 per turbine per year which is a considerable amount of money and Hayley and Luke Batters from Dalyenong Station have been approached and consider the offer non-negotiable. Luke said that no amount of money can convince him to have wind turbines on his property. Many people would feel the same way, however, the high amount of money being offered is tempting to many. As a result, the Batters decided to hold an information evening, including a free BBQ, to inform all the attendees of the issues that they believe are relevant and may not be forthcoming from the energy company.

Wi t h a s t r o n g turnout, Hayley Batters lead the information with why we are here and what we want you to know about the implications for all and your families.

The Proposal The proposal is to have a 250 turbine wind farm that spans the area of Avoca, Natte Yallock, Dunolly and Stuart Mill by a Chinese-owned energy company, Pacific Blue. Each turbine would be 230m to blade tip with each blade mea-

suring 80m and the tower 150m. This would make them double the height of the Waubra turbines, with twice the number, and the setback would be 1.3km.

Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Hayley explained that in 2021 Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) identified a total of 5

Above: Natte Yallock Reserve rooms listening to Zoe Crouch’s first-hand experience of living with a Wind Farm.

REZ areas from their integrated system plan (ISP).

Concern about not meeting net zero emissions The next year the Victorian Government released its Offshore Wind Policy D i r e c t i o n s Pa p e r, which expressed concerns about meeting the 2050 target of net zero emissions with onshore renewable energy generators only. Hayley quoted the research paper indicating they are concerned that to meet net-zero targets using onshore renewables could require up to 70% of Victoria’s agricultural land to host wind and solar farms. She is also concerned that with Wind Farms come battery storage facilities, terminal stations and high voltage transmission lines.

Rialto Towers 251m

Proposed Natte Yallock Wind Turbine 230m

Proposed VNI West Tower 80m

Above: The actual size in comparison Supplied by: Hayley Batters

Neighbouring properties also affected Hayley cited that Amendment VC212 to the Victorian Planning Permissions 2021 states that on farming land an appli-

cation for a dwelling (other than a bed and breakfast) must be further than 1km from the boundary of land that held an application for a wind turbine or a proposed wind farm. • Cont. page 4.

St. Arnaud’s ANZAC Day service gets bigger each year ON a cool but fine morning the dawn ANZAC Day service was carried out in St. Arnaud with the wreath laying at the cenotaph at midmorning. Many organisations and schools took part and the march and the wreath laying with the Secondary School School Captain reading the citation to Maud Coates, who at 107 years of age, was also in attendance. Many believe that Maud is the oldest Australian veteran still living, but certainly for this district Maude takes out the mantle. The St. Patricks Primary School students also read out the information on ‘Bertie’ Bertalli who was a nurse based in Queensland and believed to have joined up ‘to get away from her eight brothers’. The large contingent marched down Napier Street and continued to the RSL hall. Len Reid took over the role of performing the ANZAC Requiem beautifully from Brian Chipperfield who passed away during the year. The MC was also a replacement, Des Richards, who also performed his role superbly. More pics on page 18 Charlton and Coonooer Bridge ANZAC - page 16 Stuart Mill ANZAC - page 17

Above: Tom Amos was one of many who placed a wreath at the cenotaph in Napier Street St. Arnaud. The wreath was on behalf of the Thwaites family.

East Wimmera Health Service moves to allay concerns about any closures - See page 6 and 7.


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