MY STOPPING WINDFARMS IN STATE FORESTS BILL HITS PARLIAMENT

In Parliament on Wednesday I introduced my Bill that will prohibit windfarms being built in State forests.

It's called the Stopping Windfarms in State Forests Bill 2025.

It comes after extensive community consultation and feedback.

I recently attended meetings in Sunny Corner and Yetholme where the Sunny Corner State Forest windfarm proposal was unveiled.

I was very concerned by what I saw here. These turbines are very close to many residential homes, in some cases a mere one kilometre away. I was surprised by how big the impact will be on these residents.

It seems to me like the developer has placed the turbines at locations which will cost them the least but will impact local residents the most.

It’s the same around Oberon.

I can’t support these developments.

I am not against renewable energy. Like many things in life it’s all about finding the right balance.

The problem is that windfarms are regulated by State planning laws.

The current laws do not properly regulate or set out the rights of impacted residents and neighbours. The result is conflict and controversy.

It’s the same story with the creation of Renewable Energy Zones and EnergyCo, the NSW Government company that’s building the power lines.

There is a way forward to clean up this mess.

My Bill would override loose State laws and ensure that windfarms in the Sunny Corner State Forest; the Vulcan State Forest; the Mount David State Forest; the Gurnang State Forest and Canobolas State Forest will not go ahead. This applies to windfarms at Sunny Corner, Oberon and Orange but the Bill stops windfarms in all State forests.

These windfarm developments are coming at local residents like a freight train down the line. This would be the quickest and simplest way to stop them in their tracks.

The Bill is now before the Parliament and I call on all the major parties to get behind it to stop windfarms in State forests and support our communities.