FAQs

Studies into the potential impact of wind farm developments on property prices, including by the NSW Valuer-General (2009) and Urbis (2016), have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that wind farms can be linked to adverse impacts on property prices.

Neoen built and operates the Hornsdale Wind Farm across numerous properties near Jamestown in South Australia. Stock including sheep and cattle take a couple of days to get used to wind turbines, then are very comfortable with them – they rub up against turbines and use the shade from the towers during summer. The farmers at Hornsdale have not reported any ill effects from the project on other animals such as horses and dogs. Wind turbines pose a low threat to birds, as very few birds fly at blade height.

There are nearly 200,000 wind turbines across sites all over the world – many of them close to people’s houses. Some 17 reviews of research literature conducted by leading health and research organisations from all over the world, including the World Health Organisation, Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Centre, the UK Health Protection Agency and the US National Research Council, have concluded that there is no published evidence to positively link wind turbines with adverse health effects.

Neoen understands that water is an important issue for the Ravenshoe community. Our commitment is to truck water to the site from elsewhere within the constraints of any approval conditions.

Neoen has conducted a preliminary geotechnical study, and will conduct further studies prior to construction.

At all times, Neoen will comply with Queensland legislation, including laws regarding the protection of cultural heritage. Neoen has conducted a cultural heritage assessment, and will also consult with local Aboriginal groups to ensure that cultural heritage is protected.

On all of its projects, Neoen aims to minimise the impact on local flora and fauna by designing its projects to avoid areas of high conservation significance, and adopting control measures during our construction process. Neoen engaged specialist consultants to undertake detailed flora and fauna surveys of the Kaban site in December 2016 and January 2017 to determine the ecological attributes of the land, and prepare a flora and fauna assessment.

The flora assessment recorded a range of species, vegetation communities and habitat values. Neoen has designed the project layout to avoid ‘of concern’ regional ecosystems, and has changed the project design to limit the amount of vegetation clearing required. This has been achieved by moving proposed cables to run alongside access tracks. Additionally, wind turbines will be micro-sited to minimise the amount of clearing required.

The fauna assessment found that the project is likely to have a low risk of potential impact to birds and bats recorded in the study area. The assessment recorded four conservation significant fauna species in the vicinity of the project site, including the ghost bat, greater glider, magnificent brood frog and the spectacled flying fox. The current design has been designed to avoid fauna habitat as much as possible. During the detailed design, wind turbines will be micro-sited to minimise the potential impact on fauna habitat. Other mitigation measures include preparing management plans, identifying “no-go zones” within the project site and conducting pre-clearance surveys.

Neoen has engaged an expert noise consultant to conduct background noise monitoring and prepare a noise impact assessment. At all times, Neoen will comply with the requirements in the Queensland Wind Farm State Code and its planning guideline. This includes the acoustic criteria for host and non-host lots:

• On host properties, the outdoor night-time acoustic level will not exceed 45dB(A) or the background noise by more than 5dB(A);
• On non-host properties, the outdoor night-time acoustic level will not exceed 35dB(A) or the background noise by more than 5dB(A). The outdoor day-time acoustic level will not exceed 37dB(A) or the background noise by more than 5dB(A).

These noise levels are to be complied with (and demonstrated by measurement) under all wind circumstances and wind directions, outdoors, and at all residences around the project throughout the project operating life.

For reference, Safework Australia associates 30dB with whispering, 40dB with quiet radio music and 60dB with normal conversation. Please see https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/noise for more information.