When the covenants and planning permits for this land and the whole wetlands area were drafted and approved by the responsible authority in about the year 2000 there was no consideration of wind turbines. It is apparent from reading the development and building requirements that the primary purpose of the planning scheme was to conserve the wetland area while providing the opportunity for small dwellings with minimal impact. The intention of the original planning permit was to provide a compromise whereby relatively small dwellings could be built partly on wetlands while undertaking to maintain the remaining surrounding wetlands and continue as much as possible in that compromise the integrity of the wetlands. Installing two 10 meter high poles with turbine blades in the wetlands themselves with possible accompanying noise is entirely contrary to that intention.
The covenants and permits to the land provide that the upper storey of a dwelling be no more than 60% of the lower storey. This was intended to provide a corridor of views from the surrounding area. The turbines are placed directly in that corridor thus not only blocking the view but providing an industrial view instead of a view of the wet lands environment. It is difficult to calculate from the plans made available for inspection but it appears that when the total area of the turbine masts, blades, guy lines and anchor points are added to the area of the second storey the total area of the second storey appears to be more than 60%. The covenants also provide that the “sub-floor structures to support buildings and decks must be designed to minimise impact to wetlands and salt marsh vegetation during and after construction”. The foundations to fix the wind turbine posts and anchor points into the ground will be in the wetlands. This is a continuing major impact on the wetlands. The strength and resistance of those foundations affected by winds and their effect on the wetlands must be demonstrated. The application does not appear to show engineering specifications of the wind turbines, their materials and their foundations or any analysis of their impact on the wetlands.
The concept of permanent high towers with rotating blades standing in the wetlands make such a visual and engineering impact that it would have been anathema to the planners and to the responsible authority. To allow such a development would set a precedent for other unforeseen developments.
