Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Senator Ross Cadell have met Oberon locals, concerned about plans for wind turbines in the areas as part of Labor’s reckless race to renewables.
The Oberon Community Forum heard how prime agricultural and forestry land in the area could soon be ripped up for hundreds of wind turbines.
Mr Littleproud said The Nationals are not against renewables, but regional Australia seems to be bearing the majority of them and we have the time to pause and plan properly.
“Labor’s reckless race to reach 82 per cent renewables by 2030 threatens vast areas of productive farming land in towns such as Oberon, without proper consideration, consultation or safeguards. These wind farms will destroy native vegetation and highly productive agricultural land.
“Labor has the wrong priorities. If you overburden farmers and reduce productive farmland, then you directly increase the price of fresh food at the checkout and diminish our food security. It’s the simple economics of supply and demand and when supply goes down, prices go up.”
Senator Cadell said Labor was not just tearing up remnant vegetation, but also putting food security at risk.
“Labor is destroying the very thing it wants to protect, which is the environment,” Senator Cadell said.
“A future government with a Nationals MP in the Central West will stop this reckless race to renewables and fight for our farming communities.”
Oberon Against Wind Towers group spokesperson Chris Muldoon said the Forestry Corporation of NSW is planning to install between 350 to 625 wind turbines in the area, with towers as high as 285 metres.
“The rollout of renewable energy into our community will desecrate the landscape, destroy our growing tourism industry and decrease land and property values, which have risen on the back of Oberon’s desirability as one of the last authentic, undeveloped regional towns on Sydney’s doorstep,” Mr Muldoon said.
“Our group is not against the rollout of renewable energy – we just want governments to take a more considered and less-intrusive approach to the installation of the associated infrastructure.
“The planning and decision-making process as it stands now is heavily weighted in favour of renewable developers, and as a community we are just a sitting duck waiting for the giant trucks to roll into town carrying not only massive towers but also the capability of changing our lives forever.
“In Oberon’s case, it is not just agricultural land that is under threat. The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales has openly said that it will practically carpet bomb Oberon forests with hundreds of giant wind towers, which will undoubtedly lead to the desecration of the economic, environmental and social fabric of the local community.
“This indiscriminate rush for renewable energy has devastating consequences for regional communities.”
