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Goyder Council withdraws from Stony Gap wind farm appeal case

By court reporter Candice Marcus

The Regional Council of Goyder has withdrawn from legal proceedings about a proposed wind farm in the mid-north of South Australia, saying it accepted an amended proposal.

The plan for a 41-turbine wind farm at Stony Gap originally was rejected by the council over concerns noise and vibration from the turbines would adversely affect the health of local residents.

EnergyAustralia lodged an appeal in the Environment, Resources and Development Court a year ago, but more recently the court heard an alternative wind farm proposal had been submitted and the council supported it.

Lawyer Victoria Shute for the council told the court it was now withdrawing from the appeal hearing.

"The amended proposal for the purposes of the appeal is accepted by my client as a compromise proposal. The council and the applicant (EnergyAustralia) have reached an in-principle agreement on the proposal.

"I am instructed to seek leave to withdraw from the appeal hearing.

"The council has deemed the amended proposal to be accepted on its view and does not intend to call evidence or make submissions during the appeal hearing and therefore seeks that it not be called on in any way, shape or form during the hearing."

Ms Shute said the regional council had limited staff and it would be a significant burden because only the CEO and planning officer would be able to assist the court.

She said if it required the council's assistance later, arrangements could be made.

Three local residents with objections to the plan are still involved with the hearing and their lawyers have asked for more detail about the amended proposal, including how far the project would be from houses.

The court ordered those details be provided before the next directions hearing in October.

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