I note that the soon to be finalised Barossa Character Protection District is now allegedly protected from the introduction of wind power stations following the recent gazetting of the Statewide Windfarm DPA.
If Mr Rau is true to his word, the eastern boundary of this district will be extended to include the whole of the Eden Valley wine region.
Consequently, this will include the proposed site of Pacific Hydro's Keyneton Eden Valley wind power station.
I can't help but see a paradox here: clearly the Minister, the Parliament and the people of South Australia do not want wind turbines in the Barossa Valley area but we are still obliged to consider Pacific Hydro's application on the laws in existence (as opposed to laws being considered) at the time the application is made.
Consequently, there is a possibility, no matter how remote, that we will have industrial strength wind turbines in an area which has specifically declared them to be non-complying and, therefore, incongruous with our surroundings; how is this a desirable outcome?
I note, too, that Pacific Hydro was presented with an award for corporate responsibility in 2011 for reporting it undertook in 2009.
Although it has not won the award since, I am sure that Pacific Hydro considers itself to still be capable of at least some corporate responsibility.
Accordingly, I ask that Victorian-based Pacific Hydro take into account the very clear desires of the people of South Australia as mentioned above and exercise some corporate responsibility by withdrawing their power station application near Keyneton and Eden Valley.
Brad Reynolds
Eden Valley