News 
 Local News 
 News 
 General 
 Clunes wind test tower's vandal attack 

Clunes wind test tower's vandal attack

08 Dec, 2009 09:50 PM
WIND farm opponents are believed responsible for the destruction of a wind testing tower at a Clunes property at the weekend.

Damage to the meteorological wind mast has been estimated at $100,000 and was caused when several of the steel cables anchoring the 80m tower were severed on Friday night, bringing it to the ground.

The tower is part of a feasibility study for the proposed Waubra North wind farm being considered for the site.

Owned by Acciona, the tower had been collecting information at the site to determine the wind resource available.

Tracking wind resource at a site is one of the stages of a study Acciona undertakes before installing wind turbines.

On Monday, Acciona contacted the landowner where the tower was erected, when it was discovered the equipment had stopped tracking data at 10.30pm Friday.

Moorabool Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Craig Grenfell said the damage was likely a protest against proposed future wind turbines on the property.

"We are looking at the possibility that this is a protest at the turbines being erected in this location," Det Sen Const Grenfell said.

He said the extent of the damage made the act a serious criminal offence, which the police would be taking seriously.

"If you want to protest, there is no need to cause damage to property."

The words `No Turbins' (sic) had been written in white spray paint on the road leading from the property.

Acciona declined to comment on the incident, but urged anyone with information to contact police.

Det Sen Const Grenfell can be contacted at the Moorabool crime investigation unit on 5366 4545.

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size

comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
This is no act of vandalism, it is straight out sabotage. I just hope the charges could be upgraded to an act of terrorism. This is a direct terrorist action against Australia's future power needs.
Posted by sjc, 8/12/2009 11:25:10 PM, on The Ballarat Courier
I am an expert on birds of prey. For all the green energy believers out there, there is a video you have to see. Please check out the YOUTUBE video fatal accident with a vulture on a windmill to see an eyewitness account of what is happening to millions of birds across the world each year. Most of the dead are protected species and many are rare or endangered. The prop turbine seen in this video is not even spinning at full speed. It is spinning at just 12 rotations per minute. At full speed it will spin at 20 rotations per minute making this wind turbine even more dangerous to anything that happens to fly by. When it comes to industrial wind energy full disclosure has been a major problem. All across North America the wind industry has had a field day dealing with the ignorance of community planners. Each community should do their homework. Why would anyone want to buy a car that gets 5 mpg and then have to drive it 25 years. That is what a lease with the archaic prop wind turbine is all about. Each community needs to invest in the new wind turbine designs. You will receive far more electricity with the new designs and in the process not slaughter protected birds.
Posted by wiegand, 9/12/2009 2:26:57 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
I think that since all the people have become ill from the turbines at Waubra producing low frequency noise, community opposition to these type of projects will only get more vocal and lead to this type of action. No one should have to go to the length of what is a criminal act to tell the developers they are not wanted in the area. The silly thing is that the community around Clunes and Evansford have constantly told Acciona they are not welcome. Acciona continue to push on despite the claim they make of consultation and listening to the community. If they listened to the community in the first place this would never have happened.
Posted by lisa, 9/12/2009 6:54:10 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
Why didn't the landholder have their name in the article? People with turbines don't care if everyone else has to pay more for power to support this rubbish.
Posted by Max, 9/12/2009 7:16:33 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
The wind turbines in the background are the ones that have been measured at over 100db on the Coutts property.
Posted by gaz, 9/12/2009 8:46:02 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
Where is the proof from the wind NIMBY's above that the turbines are causing them ill health?
Posted by Homerclees, 9/12/2009 9:07:13 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
Wind turbines are on the nose - go solar! And better still the carbon credit price falls with every solar hot water system installed.
Posted by Darryl, 9/12/2009 9:23:24 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
Just look at the rot in the editorial today - another assumption people opposed to turbines did it.
Posted by Debbie, 9/12/2009 11:52:45 AM, on The Ballarat Courier
Where is the proof that the wind turbines are not making people sick? Funny how after building turbines and measuring noise at over 100db there are still those with their heads in the sand in regard to the effects of infrasound. The sickness at Waubra is not an isolated incident. This has been occurring all over the world for years. In Denmark wind developers now have to pay the neighbours by law if they plan to build turbines next to them. As for Australia's future power needs, you must be joking? What power will we use when there is no wind? Or is that too hard for you to work out?
Posted by mick, 9/12/2009 12:26:29 PM, on The Ballarat Courier
Solar is the answer to everything. Stuff it, let's go nuclear.
Posted by Leigh, 9/12/2009 1:42:13 PM, on The Ballarat Courier
1 | 2 | 3  |  next >

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
 
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
DISAPPOINTING: The Clunes property owner stands next to the massive tower and mangled support cable that was cut to bring the 80m high tower to earth. Picture: Andrew Kelly
DISAPPOINTING: The Clunes property owner stands next to the massive tower and mangled support cable that was cut to bring the 80m high tower to earth. Picture: Andrew Kelly

Most popular articles

Regent Cinema

Photo Sales
 
Paperboy
 
Design and Print


The Courier







Weather brought to you by:

Weatherzone

Navigate

Classifieds

More Ways to Read

Front Page

Current Issue
Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Advertising Terms | Copyright © 2010. Fairfax Media.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...