The Rye Park wind farm spreads across the boundary of Upper Lachlan and the former Boorowa Shire (now Hilltops).

At the last Upper Lachlan Council meeting, Planning Director Tina Dodson reported that four submissions had been received on the original draft agreement which was publicly exhibited.

One submission, from Christine Hawkins of Blakney Creek on the Rye Park Rd, strongly opposed extending the accredited area to 20km, declaring that it should be restricted to 10km.

Ms Hawkins wrote: “The reference in the press by the Mayor, Cr Shaw, that it should be expanded to 20km due to the sparse population around the wind farm site, demonstrates the poor regard that the Council has for its residents on the fringes of the Council area.

“To increase the area to 20km will further disadvantage the members of the community who will be impacted by the Rye Park wind farm.”

Ms Hawkins made the further point that those living within 10km of the wind farm would be those disadvantaged by increased traffic and deteriorating roads during construction.

“At the very least projects within 10km should be given priority to projects further afield,” Ms Hawkins wrote.

She concluded that the Community Enhancement Committee should include permanent residents within 5km of the turbines in Upper Lachlan area, to ensure they have a say in the distribution of funds should the wind farm be approved.

A submission from Andrew Field, also of Blakney Creek, went further and thought at least one person living within 2km of a turbine should be on the committee.

He considered the $2500 per turbine contribution by the wind farm developer (Rye Park Renewable Energy Pty Ltd) “a joke”.

It “would not fund the road repairs or an environmental disaster”, he said.

“Council should be asking for $25,000 per tower, and that still would not be enough,” Mr Field said.

Mr Field said the money should be spent within a 5km radius, “and benefit the people that are going to be most affected”.

The finalised draft agreement will now go to the project developers web site for approval.

The Wind Farm will be located west of Yass, with up to 134 turbines.