Thankfully most of us will not have wind turbines dominating the skyline close to our towns or on farm boundaries, neither will those city dwellers who embrace renewables, ignoring any community impact.
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As the unfettered subsidies for wind turbines continue so will their impact on our horizons.
It is estimated that each turbine receives $1.5 million in subsidies, however government and operators have no contingencies to remove structures or vast concrete pads when they become obsolete, currently tipped to be after 20 years of operation.
We will be left with a landscape of working turbines churning away in a graveyard of wreckage. Talk about environmental vandalism.
Now another major problem is emerging; the massive devaluation in farmland affected by turbines.
Crookwell farmer and The Land contributor John Carter contends that windfarm hosts have no control over the developers who have invested up to 20 times the value of the title holder’s land in subsidised wind turbine infrastructure, and hosts hadn’t understood what they had signed up to.
“Three very recent local property sales have confirmed that a host wind farm loses 30 to 40 per cent in value,” he said.
“Crookwell One, host-farm, with its eight turbines sold for $2900/acre.”
He added that similar basalt soil an equal distance from Crookwell with inferior buildings but no turbines sold for $4100.
This should send a clear message to landholders offering to host turbines and also the neighbouring property owners.
We will be left with a landscape of working turbines churning away...
You face a massive devaluation in future land values if wind turbines land on your doorstep.
Sheepish
My mate Peter swears this story is correct and is apt today with current booming wool prices.
A large Western Districts wool grower, a member of the landed gentry, had made so much money in the 1950s he bought a substantial home in London where he lived the good life.
After several years the market softened and he received a telegram from his property manager expressing concern that the market had retreated 50 per cent.
He abruptly replied that the manager would now have to shear the sheep twice a year.
Ley Party Lines
On face value it is beyond belief that the member for Farrer Sussan Ley would move a private members bill against the live sheep trade.
Gobsmacked is a word used to define her action. Sure she is upset and who isn’t. Across the board the farming community was disgusted with the images aired recently.
Admittedly Ms Ley wants the trade phased out over five years and it may well happen due to the effluxion of time, however her credibility has been damaged for not defending the benefits of live trade with strictly enforced protocols.
It is reliably estimated that the price of sheep could take a $30 a head hit if boat sheep competition ceases.
Ms Ley has reacted from her gut and not with political judgement.
She is on the nose in her electorate over her expenses saga and if she thinks an issue like this will claw back electoral support she is sadly mistaken.
The National party must be grinning over her lack of judgement and not consulting with her constituents. Should she retire they will be into Farrer in a shot.
She needs to ask how many sheep from the Farrer electorate have been exported?
The side issue is that activists do not want any livestock exported live, even breeding stock and further at the end of the rainbow, they do not believe we should slaughter animals.
If Ms Ley is chasing votes outside her party she should come clean and say so.
