Wind farms will not be welcome anywhere in Shellharbour after the city’s council decided to oppose future developments and to make its views known to the State Government.
Mayor Kellie Marsh used her casting vote to pass the motion on Tuesday night, with support from her Liberal colleague Paul Rankin and independent councillor Helen Stewart.
Labor Deputy Mayor Marianne Saliba yesterday said the council had ‘‘jumped the gun’’ ahead of the State Government’s draft wind farm guidelines, which are now on public display.
‘‘I was serious when I said I’m surprised that they have no confidence in their state counterparts,’’ she said.
Councillors Marsh and Rankin raised concerns about the impact of wind farms on tourism, the health of residents, and Shellharbour’s natural beauty and native wildlife.
‘‘I do not see a problem with us being proactive and I will not apologise for being proactive,’’ Cr Marsh said yesterday. ‘‘We don’t want these metal monstrosities. That’s not going to bring people to our city.’’
However, Cr Peter Moran criticised the decision.
‘‘We have just become a nimby [not in my backyard] council. We don’t want wind farms, we don’t want coal seam gas, but we do want the gas-fired Tallawarra power station, apparently.’’
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