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Version: 2

Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel

Agenda

Meeting Date and Time: Thursday 9 May 2013; 12 noon Meeting Number: GSJDAP/7 Meeting Venue: City of Albany

Council Chambers 102 North Road, Yakamia

Attendance

DAP Members Mr Ian Hocking (Alternate Presiding Member) Mr Rory O’Brien (Alternate Deputy Presiding Member) Mr Terry Tyzack (Specialist Member) Cr Len Handasyde (Local Government Member, Shire of Plantagenet) Cr Gert Messmer (Local Government Member, Shire of Plantagenet) Cr Don Dufty (Local Government Member, City of Albany) Cr Chris Holden (Local Government Member, City of Albany) Officers in attendance Mr Ian Patterson (DAP Secretariat) Ms Druella McTavish (City of Albany) Ms Jan Van Der Mescht (City of Albany) Mr Adrian Nicoll (City of Albany) Mr Peter Duncan (Shire of Plantagenet) Ms Linda Sounness (Shire of Plantagenet) Local Government Minute Secretary Ms Jennifer Cobbold (City of Albany) Applicants and Submitters Mr Dan Stevens (Water Corporation) – via teleconference Mr Mike Davis (TPG) Members of the Public Nil

Version: 2

1. Declaration of Opening

The Presiding Member declares the meeting open and acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and custodians of the land on which the meeting is being held.

2. Apologies

Mr Rob Paull (Presiding Member)

3. Members on Leave of Absence

Nil

4. Noting of Minutes

Note the minutes of the Great Southern JDAP meeting no.6 held on the 24 February 2013.

5. Disclosure of Interests

Member/Officer Report Item Nature of Interest Cr Len Handasyde Item 8.1 Impartiality Interest

Cr Handasyde participated in the Shire of Plantagenet Council Meeting on 26 March 2013 to endorse the Responsible Authority Report at Item 8.1.

6. Declarations of Due Consideration

Any member who is not familiar with the substance of any report or other information provided for consideration at the DAP meeting must declare that fact before the meeting considers the matter.

7. Deputations and Presentations

Nil

8. Form 1 - Responsible Authority Reports – DAP Applications

8.1 Application Details: 32 properties abutting Albany Highway and

various road reserves in Mount Barker Property Location: Water Supply Improvements Between Albany

and Mount Barker Applicant: TPG on behalf of Water Corporation Owner: Various Responsible authority: Shire of Plantagenet Report date: 26 March 2013 DoP File No: DP/13/00232

8.2 Application Details: Water Supply Improvements – Construction of a

Water Trunk Main and New Pumping Stations Property Location: Various Lots between Albany and Mount Barker Applicant: TPG - Town Planning, Urban Design & Heritage Owner: Various Owners

Version: 2

Responsible authority: City of Albany Report date: 2 May 2013 DoP File No: DP/13/00232

9. Form 2 – Responsible Authority Reports - Amending or cancelling DAP

development approval

Nil

10. Appeals to the State Administrative Tribunal

The following State Administrative Tribunal Applications have been received:

• Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup – Proposed 74 Wind Turbines and

Associated Infrastructure – Flat Rocks Wind Farm – Various Lots: Euvista, Intaba, Kinghurst, The Meadows, Yanchep.

• City of Albany – Proposed Coles Supermarket with attached specialty

shops – Lot 401-405 Albany Highway, Albany. 11. Meeting Closure

Mr Rob Paull Presiding Member, Great Southern JDAP

Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel Minutes

Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday 26 February 2013, 12:30pm Meeting Number: 6 Meeting Venue: Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup 46-48 Norrish Street Tambellup Attendance

DAP Members Mr Rob Paull (Presiding Member) Mr Ian Hocking (Deputy Presiding Member) – via teleconference Mr Terry Tyzack (Specialist Member) Cr Barry Webster (Local Government Member) Cr Scott Thompson (Local Government Member) Officers in attendance Mr Ron Couacaud (DoP) Ms Liz Bushby (Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup) Applicant, Submitters and Members of the Public Mr Roger Bilney Ms Narelle Goodall Ms Carolyn Smiddy-Brown (Latro Lawyers) Dr Sarah Rankin (Moonies Hill Energy Pty Ltd) Ms Belinda Moharich (Flint Moharich)

Local Government Minute Secretary Ms Jo Trezona (Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup)

1. Declaration of Opening The Presiding Member declares the meeting open and acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and custodians of the land on which the meeting is being held.

2. Apologies Nil

Meeting No.6 26 February 2013

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3. Members on Leave of Absence Nil

4. Noting of Minutes The minutes of the Great Southern JDAP meeting No.5 held on the 4 February 2013 in Denmark were noted.

5. Disclosure of Interests

Nil

6. Declarations of Due Consideration No declarations were made. All members indicated that they were familiar with the substance of the reports and additional information provided for consideration at the DAP meeting.

7. Deputations and Presentations 7.1 Mr Roger Bilney presented to the DAP. His presentation focussed on

health concerns, impact on future dwellings and good neighbour agreements. A full copy of Mr Bilney’s presentation is attached. (Attachment 1)

7.2 Ms Narelle Goodall, on behalf of Dr Sarah Laurie (CEO Waubra

Foundation), presented against the application at Item 8.1. Ms Goodall highlighted potential health issues with particular reference to infrasound. A full copy of Ms Goodall’s and Dr Sarah Laurie’s presentations are attached. (Attachment 2 & 3)

7.3 Prior to the presentation by Ms Carolyn Smiddy-Brown (Latro Lawyers) the

Chairman, Rob Paull read aloud an emailed letter that had been received prior to the meeting seeking a right of reply to the presentations from Ms Sarah Rankin and Ms Belinda Moharich. Mr Paull advised that no right of reply will be allowed. Ms Smiddy-Brown representing Roger Bilney, presented to the DAP and highlighted what they perceived were inadequacies with the report and proposed conditions. A copy of the presentation is attached. (Attachment 4)

7.4 Dr Sarah Rankin (Moonies Hill Energy Pty Ltd) presented for the

application at Item 8.1. Dr Rankin provided an overview of the project including the background, community benefit and a proposal to establish a Sustainable Community Fund. Dr Rankin also provided comment on the issues raised concerning noise.


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DAP members asked Dr Rankin to comment on wind turbines and aerial spraying, good neighbour agreements, the size of the turbine blades and the issues that dictate the number of turbines. Further clarification was also sought from Dr Rankin on the visual impact study and noise monitoring testing.

7.5 Ms Belinda Moharich (Flint Moharich) on behalf of the applicant presented

for the application at Item 8.1. The presentation provided a reworded set of conditions for the JDAP to consider. The presentation focussed on the DAP process and the application of an orderly and proper process in making a determination. Ms Moharich discussed land values, noise and health issues and land owner agreements. Ms Moharich discussed the requirement by the applicants to mitigate any future noise non compliance that may arise from the construction of a wind farm and drew the DAP members attention to the following:

• section 6 of the RAR report, submission No 8, item 18 from the Shire of Dandaragan resolution as presented in the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2011

• Attachment No 14 – EPA Assessment of the Warradarge Wind Farm

(Attachment 5)

The chairman advised that Standing Orders would be suspended to seek clarification from the Department of Planning concerning an adjournment of the DAP hearing to a later date.

PROCEDURAL MOTION

Moved by: Cr Barry Webster Seconded by: Mr Terry Tyzack

That Standing Orders be suspended to seek clarification from the DAP Secretariat on the formal adjournment of meeting number 6 of the Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel to allow Mr Tyzack and Mr Couacaud sufficient time to travel back to Albany to catch a flight back to Perth.

The motion was put and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Standing Orders were suspended at 1.55pm

Standing Orders were resumed at 1.58pm


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The Chairman noted that a written presentation had been submitted to the DAP from Mr Steven Cooper of the Acoustic Group Pty Ltd. A copy of that submission is attached. (Attachment 6)

Prior to considering part A of the recommendations contained in the Responsible Authority Report at 8.1 the chairman advised the hearing that a legal opinion had been obtained to clarify if the Great Southern JDAP and not the Council is responsible for advertising the planning application. The opinion provided that the Council was the correct body to advertise the application.

8. Form 1 - Responsible Authority Reports – DAP Application

8.1 Application Details: Proposed wind farm and ancillary development

on various lots in Broomehill West and Borderdale

Property Location: 31 lots known as Euvista, Intaba, Kinghurst, The Meadows and Yantecup)

Applicant: Moonies Hill Energy Pty Ltd Owner: Alexander John Cant, Dovercourt Pty Ltd,

Geoffrey & Wendy Thorn Responsible authority: Shire of Broomehill-Tambellup Report date: 8 February 2013 DoP File No: DP/12/01359

REPORT RECOMMENDATION Moved by: Cr Barry Webster Seconded by: Cr Scott Thompson That the Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel resolved to: A. Determine that the ‘wind farm’ use proposed on land known as ‘Euvista’,

‘Intaba’, ‘Kinghurst’, ‘and ‘The Meadows’ is consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Broomehill Town Planning Scheme No 1, and on the land known as ‘Yantecup’ is consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Tambellup Town Planning Scheme No 2.

The motion was put and LOST (2/3). For: Cr Barry Webster Cr Scott Thompson Against: Mr Ian Hocking Mr Terry Tyzack Mr Rob Paull


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ALTERNATE MOTION: Moved by: Mr Terry Tyzack Seconded by: Mr Ian Hocking That the Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel resolves to: A. Determine that the ‘wind farm’ use as proposed on land known as ‘Euvista’,

‘Intaba’, ‘Kinghurst’, ‘and ‘The Meadows’ is not consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Broomehill Town Planning Scheme No 1, and on the land known as ‘Yantecup’ is not consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Tambellup Town Planning Scheme No 2.

The Mover and Seconder agreed to a request from the Presiding Member to include reference in the motion to Attachment 2 of the RAR which clarified the list of properties. The motion was amended to read: A. Determine that the ‘wind farm’ use as proposed on land known as ‘Euvista’,

‘Intaba’, ‘Kinghurst’, ‘and ‘The Meadows’ (as provided for in Attachment A of the RAR) is not consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Broomehill Town Planning Scheme No 1, and on the land known as ‘Yantecup’ (as provided for in Attachment 2 of the RAR) is not consistent with the objectives and purposes of the Farming zone under the Shire of Tambellup Town Planning Scheme No 2.

The motion was put and CARRIED (3/2). For: Mr Ian Hocking Mr Terry Tyzack Mr Rob Paull Against: Cr Barry Webster Cr Scott Thompson REPORT RECOMMENDATION Moved by: Mr Terry Tyzack Seconded by: Mr Ian Hocking That the Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel resolves to: B. Note all submissions lodged during public advertising as outlined in the

‘Schedule of Submissions’ – AAttttaacchhmmeenntt 55.. The motion was put and CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.


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9. Form 2 – Responsible Authority Reports - Amending or cancelling DAP

development approval Nil

10. Appeals to the State Administrative Tribunal Nil

11. Meeting Closure There being no further business the chairman declared the meeting closed at 2.19pm.

Issues raised in consultation from Table one.

Issue One Health concerns

The issue of harmful health impacts from excessive and constant noise is not

speculative or unsubstantiated, the only issue at question is the distance required from the

noise source (Wind turbines ) to a sensitive receptor for that harm not to exist. There are

emissions standards in decibels are set by the EPA in which it is suggested that 1 km may be

sufficient distance but in reality it depends on the topography of the surrounding area and

the cumulative effect of the number of turbines operating in a particular bank The North

East corner of this development has 17 turbines in one cluster with a non stakeholder

residence the minimum suggested distance from some of these turbines.

Professor Warwick Anderson: From NHMRC Testimony at the Senate Inquiry.

“As I said in my opening statement, we are very aware that the high-quality scientific literature in this area is very thin. That is why we were at pains to point out that we believe that a precautionary approach should be taken to this, because, as you would understand, the absence of evidence does not mean that there might not be evidence in the future; it is just that, at the stage when the review was done, it was not there. So we have kept an eye on the literature during the period of time, and we are aware of some papers that have since been published.”

Issue 4 Lack of Community support

The lack of community support ( 20 submissions against ) is as stated not a planning

consideration , however it is an important consideration for the EPA when deciding the

level of assessment required for approval. Moonies Hill claimed widespread community

support in their application which is quite clearly false and brings into question the validity

of the EPA approval.

Issue 6 Impact on future dwellings re‐ MHE statement to take as a

commercial risk the future land use issue. Page 24 of Table 1

There are quite clear examples of how this serious matter has been

successfully dealt with at other wind farms. At Colgar and Waradarge the developers

implemented Good Neighbour agreements prior to the development application being

lodged. At Dandaragan the shire imposed a condition ( condition 18) on Wind Prospect WA

Pty Ltd to solve this problem before construction could begin, which they have chosen to do

with Good Neighbour agreements or to resite the turbines .

However, Moonies Hill Energy have stated quite clearly that they have no interest in

good neighbour agreements. That is to say that they have no interest in the potential harm

to health, land values and agricultural practises this project may inflict on the surrounding

neighbours. This kind of corporate arrogance has no place in the Broomehill‐ Tambellup

community, or for that matter any community. The approval of this development as

recommended, simply rewards bad corporate behaviour, there is the opportunity with a

special development condition to require the developer to solve the future land use conflict.

Issue Eight Aerial spraying on neighbouring properties.

It is acknowledged that the turbines will impact on aerial spraying on adjoining

properties.( Page 26 Table 1 ) There is however no solution offered to this problem, which

will potentially have a profound impact on what is regarded as current, necessary and

important farm practises. MHE’s Aerial Impact Assessment has done little to investigate this

problem and since Gray and Lewis acknowledge existing agricultural activities such as aerial

spraying will be affected, a development condition or good neighbour agreement should be

implemented to resolve this matter.

The resolution of all of the above issues lies in open, honest and genuine

negotiations by MHE with neighbours to establish good neighbour agreements. MHE have

by their own admission stated that they have no interest in this process, so it requires this

DAP to impose conditions on them to bring about such negotiations. There is a duty of care

to all members of our community that developments, such as this one do not come at

personal cost to the neighbours. The Dandaragan Shire has set the precedent for industry

best practise, all this DAP needs do is follow that principle.

NOTESFORSUBMISSONTOTHEBROOMEHILLTAMBELUPDAPMEETING

Serioushealthproblemsarebeingreportedinconjunctionwithoperatingwindturbinesaroundtheworld.Theyareconsistentintheiroccurrenceinrelationtooperatingwindturbines,andinthewaytheyworsenovertimewithcumulativeexposure.

Theconsequenceshavebeenseriousillnessandhomeabandonment,withpeoplejustwalkingawayfromtheirhomes.Peopledonotdothatfornoreason.

Childrenandtheelderlyareparticularlyvulnerable,asarepeoplewithahistoryofmigraines,motionsickness,andinnerearpathology.

Cumulativesleepdisturbanceisthecommonestcomplaintforresidents.Somecomplaintsrelatetoaudiblenoisefromthewindturbines,butmostlypeopledescribewakingupinafrightenedanxiouspanickedstate,sometimesonmanyoccasionsduringtheonenight.

Thisdoesnothappenwhentheturbinesarenotturning,andnordoesithappenwhentheyareawayfromhome,orpriortotheturbinescommencingoperation.

Othersymptomssuchasvertigo,nausea,headaches,tinnitus,anxiety,balanceproblemsfollowthesamepatternofexposuretooperatingwindturbinesinducingthesesymptoms.Theseandothershavebeencalled“windturbinesyndrome”.

Thiseffectisbeingreportedoutto10kmfrom3MWwindturbinesinSouthAustraliaand7.5kmfrom2MWturbinesinNewSouthWalesincommunitynoiseimpactsurveys,whichalsoreportthatbetween50–70%ofhouseholdsareimpactedbytheturbinenoisewithrespecttotheirsleep.

Stressrelatedsymptomsformthebulkoftheotherreportsofassociatedillhealth,andthestressisbothphysiological(fightflightresponsesymptoms)andpsychological,especiallywhentheirsymptomsarenotdenied.

Sleepdeprivationandstressareindividuallyeachwellknowntocauseseriousharmtohumanhealthincludingheartdisease,highbloodpressure,diabetes,immunecompromise,andseriousmentalhealthdisordersincludingdepression,andanxiety.Preexistingmedicalconditionsworsen.Thisisallconsistentwithwhatisbeingreportedbyresidentsnearwinddevelopments,andbytheirtreatinghealthpractitonersincludingdoctorsandpsychologists.

Medicalpractitionershavebeenreportingthesesymptomsintheirpatientslivingnearwindturbinesfor10years,andthefirstAustraliandoctortoreportpubliclywasDrDavidIser,fromToorainVictoria,in2004.

Thereisnoresearchevidencethatthesymptomsbeingexperiencedbytheseresidentsatwinddevelopmentsaredueto“thenoceboeffect”,despitethoseassertionsbeingfrequentlymadebyadvocatesforthewindindustry.

Medicalpractitionerswouldbeguiltyofmedicalmalpracticefordiagnosing“thenoceboeffect”iftheyhadnotfirstthoroughlyinvestigatedtheirsickpatients.Yetthisisbeingdonebynonmedicalpractitionerswhoare

activelyadvocatingforthewindindustry,includingpublichealthacademicswithnotraininginmedicine,suchasProfessorSimonChapmanfromSydneyUniversity(PhDMedicinewasincigaretteadvertising).

Thisproblemhasneverbeenproperlyinvestigatedwithfullspectrumacousticmonitoring,measuringinfrasound(0‐20Hz),lowfrequencynoise(20–200Hz)andaudiblenoise(200Hz+)and“onoff”testingwiththecooperationofthewinddevelopers.Thissortofstudyispreciselywhatisrequired,andiswhattheSAEPAsaytheyareplanningtodoatWaterlooinsouthAustraliainAprilandMay.

WhilstthewinddevelopersincludingMooniesHillareassertingthattherecentlyissuedSAEPAResonateacousticsreporthasfoundthat“infrasoundisnotaproblem”theSAEPACEO,DrCampbellGemmellhasclearlystatedthatthereisaproblematWaterloowhichrequiresproperinvestigation,andthattheywillbemeasuringthefullspectrumdownto0.25Hz.AsitisbestpracticeacousticallytomeasuretheFULLspectrum,thatiswhatthecommunitywillbeinsistingon.Vibrationswillalsobemeasured.

ThemethodusedintheSAEPAResonatereportdoesnotaccuratelymeasurethefull“dose”ofinfrasoundpresentinfrequenciesbelow10Hz,becausetheyusedthedBGfilterratherthandBLinear.Pleaseseethegraphattached–thegreyareabelowthetopsolidlinetotheleftof10Hzdowntothedottedline(dBG)isthesoundenergybelow10HzwhichisomittedwhenthedBGfilterisused.Thetruelevelsofinfrasoundarethusgreatlyunderstated.

Therearepeerreviewedpublishedstudieswhichshowthatyoungfithealthyadultscanhavephysiologicalandpsychologicalchangesandsymptomsafterexposureofonly1hourtoinfrasoundat2Hzand4HzatlevelsofsoundenergybelowthecurrentlyacceptedthresholdforAUDIBLEperception.NotbeingabletohearthesoundenergydoesNOTmeanitcannotbeperceivedorthatitdoesnotcausethesesymptomsandconsequentdamagetohealth.

Leavingasidetheissueofinfrasound,thereISevidencefromacasestudyatWaterlooinSAbyProfessorConDoolanthatspecificlowfrequencynoiseemissionspresentinsidethehomes(atthetimewhichtheresidentssayiswhattheyknowtobewindturbinenoise)aredirectlycausingsymptomsofwhathasbeentermed“annoyance”butwhichincludespainfulearpressureandepisodesofsleepdisruption.

ThereisevidencefromarecentacousticsurveyinWisconsin(ShirleyWindProject)thatthesymptomsoftheresidentsarerelatedtotheseinfrasoundfrequencies,andthereislimitedevidencefromthisstudyandoneatFalmouthintheUSAthatsomeofthesymptomsarerelatedintimingtotheinfrasoundemissionsfromthewindturbines.

ThereisevidencefromtwoVictorianwinddevelopmentsthatthesickresidentsinthatstudyhadhealthindicators,whichwerenoticeablyworsethanevenhospitalinpatients,forphysicalandmentalhealth.Otherpeerreviewedpublishedstudieshaveconfirmedtheadverseeffectsofwindturbinesonsleep,mentalhealth,andqualityoflife(DrBobThorne,DrMichaelNissenbaumetal,andDrDanielShepherd’sstudies).

The Figure below came from the following journal article, and the dB Linear line material from GP Van Den Berg was sourced by those authors from the PhD thesis below. Salt, A.N. and Kaltenbach, J.A. (2011). Infrasound from Wind Turbines Could Affect Humans. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Science. (Aug 2011). 296-302. Van den Berg, G. P. (2006). The sound of high winds: The effect of atmospheric stability on wind turbine sound and microphone noise (Doctoral dissertation). University of Groningen, Netherlands. http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/faculties/science/2006/ g.p.van.den.berg/

DrSarahLaurie

CEOWaubraFoundation22ndFebruary,[email protected]

IN THE VICTORIAN CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS

TRIBUNAL

Planning and Environment List

No 2910 of 2012

BETWEEN

CHERRY TREE WIND FARM PTY LTD

Applicant

and

MITCHELL SHIRE COUNCIL

First Respondent

and

TRAWOOL VALLEY-WHITEHEADS CREEK LANDSCAPE GUARDIANS

INC

Second Respondent

and

ORS

Respondents

STATEMENT OF DR Sarah Elisabeth Laurie, CEO Waubra Foundation

STATEMENT OF DR SARAH ELISABETH LAURIE

1. My name is Dr Sarah Elisabeth Laurie, and I reside in the mid north of South

Australia. I was asked to submit a statement by concerned community members.

2. I am a trained rural general practitioner, and practiced clinical medicine in rural

and remote areas after completing my undergraduate medical degree at Flinders

University in 1994, a Bachelor of Medicine, and a Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS).

3. I subsequently completed postgraduate training, obtaining both a Fellowship of

the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and a Fellowship of the

Australian College of Remote and Rural Medicine.

4. I was asked to become an examiner for the Royal Australian College of General

Practitioners, and did so in 2001. I was also a member of state council of the

South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association.

5. In 2002 I left clinical practice because of a serious medical illness requiring

urgent surgery, and initially I retained my registration to continue clinical

practice.

6. I was subsequently unable for personal health reasons to return to work as a

clinical practitioner, because of a combination of health issues and extended

family caring responsibilities including young children and frail elderly parents

in law, so I chose not to renew my medical registration in 2004 until I was in a

position to resume clinical practice.

7. I fully intend to return to clinical medicine in the future, however I am currently

unregistered.

2

8. I have never been deregistered. I was informed by a resident living in the

vicinity of the proposed Cherry Tree wind development that an Infigen employee

had told them I was deregistered, but when challenged by the resident they

changed their story.

9. I currently work in a voluntary capacity as the CEO of the Waubra Foundation.

10. The Foundation’s postal address is PO Box 7112 Banyule LPO, Victoria 3804

and my phone number is 0439 865 914.

11. The foundation was established in March 2010, by the former chairman of the

National Stroke Foundation, Mr Peter Mitchell, AM, after he recognised the need

for urgent research to investigate the reported adverse health effects being

experienced and reported to Victorian Health authorities by residents near wind

turbines at Waubra.

12. At Mr Mitchell’s request, I joined the Foundation initially as Medical Director

in July 2010. My title was subsequently changed to Chief Executive Officer to

better reflect my role.

13. The Objectives of the Waubra Foundation are attached as Annexure 1.

14. Our current directors in addition to Mr Peter Mitchell as Chairman, and myself as

CEO, include Justice Clive Tadgell, formerly a Judge of the Victorian Supreme

Court, the Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge, former Federal Health Minister, Mr

Tony Hodgson AM, and Ms Kathy Russell, an economist and manager in a

health service, who started visiting, supporting, and advocating for sick residents

impacted by industrial wind turbine developments in Victoria in June 2008.

15. All the directors donate their time pro bono. Our activities are completely funded

by concerned citizens, mostly residing in rural areas, who are appalled at the

3

current situation and the lack of action by all the relevant responsible authorities

to address the growing public health problems associated with unsafely sited and

poorly regulated noise polluting wind turbine and other developments.

16. The Waubra Foundation is frequently described in the media and by wind

developers as an “anti wind” organisation, and I am personally regularly

described as being “anti wind”. Both assertions are untrue. For example, it is on

the public record that I supported my children, then aged 4, in their march in a

“Get Up rally” holding a wind turbine, supporting wind energy, in Adelaide in

2008.

17. The Waubra Foundation is primarily concerned about the adverse impacts of

industrial noise on human health, with particular focus on sound and vibration in

the infrasound and low frequency ranges, ie below 200 Hz.

18. Since we commenced our work with initial concerns about poorly sited large

industrial wind turbines, we have been approached by, and provided assistance

to, a range of people impacted by different sources of infrasound and low

frequency sound and vibration energy in both urban and rural environments.

19. Rural noise sources have included gasfired power stations (eg Pt Campbell,

Victoria, Uranquinty, NSW), mining activities (eg coal mines in the upper Hunter

region, NSW) and compressors used in CSG operations (eg Tara, QLD).

20. Urban sources include the low frequency noise emissions from large compressor

attached to a Veterinary Building at the University of Melbourne, which was

affecting the health of some of the nearby residents living in an adjoining suburb

of Parkville. The Parkville Resident’s association submitted to the Federal

4

Senate Inquiry into the Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms, and I

have attached their submission as Annexure 2.

21. As a result of my work in this area of public health, I have been asked to provide

evidence at the two Australian Federal Senate inquiries, which investigated this

issue of wind turbine noise, and I have also given evidence in and for other legal

proceedings and parliamentary or government inquiries, both in Australia and in

Canada.

22. My own interest in this little understood area of public health was first stimulated

in March/April 2010 by learning about a proposed wind turbine development

near my home.

23. That proposal has now been dropped by the wind developer, but my professional

concern about the serious nature of the health problems, the way sick residents

are being universally ignored by health, planning and noise pollution authorities,

and the lack of specific scientific knowledge about safe exposure doses for

certain sound frequencies remains, hence my ongoing work with the Waubra

Foundation.

24. Dr Amanda Harry, a rural General Practitioner from Cornwall in the United

Kingdom was the first Medical practitioner I am aware of who reported adverse

health effects being experienced by neighbours to wind turbines. Dr Harry

conducted a survey of her patients living near wind developments in 2003. Her

study is attached as annexure 3.

25. Dr Harry’s additional experience and post graduate qualifications in the fields of

Ear Nose and Throat disorders, and the multidisciplinary assistance she received

from a physicist with expertise in the field of infrasound and low frequency

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