Yes to nuclear power for clean energy

Dear Tertia

As a proponent of nuclear power for supply of continuous clean energy to Australia, and also aware of the debate around the accuracy of the effects of industrialisation on climate change, I decided to attend the final public meeting of the NSW Government Independent Planning Commission with regard to the proposed Pottinger Wind Farm.

I noted that of the 28 speakers, two supported the project and 26 were against.

The supporters were Tim Mead, representative of the company that wants to build the wind farm, and the Shire Council – spoken for by our Mayoress Cr Carol Oataway.

The remaining speakers included a good number of rural landowners and credible others arguing against the government approach to power supply and the feasibility of their argument.

I felt that the Australian public could not be confident that their needs would be met.

Points of note were:

Lack of transparency and information on the pros and cons of the process and the risk of losing valuable farming land.

There will be major expense incurred building infrastructure to get the windmills into position.

Large battery storage units will need to be built and power lines to take the power to the cities.

The risk of water and soil contamination by Polyfluoralkyl which flakes off the windmill blades and endangers both the rural industry and native wildlife.

The windmills could provide increased fire risk and insuring against damages to property in the vicinity may be difficult.

The difficulty of disposal of non-recyclable waste created by decommissioned windmills.

The employment in China of Uyghur forced labour to manufacture the windmills.

I get the impression that local people are not happy to lose the beautiful open plains they love, and that also generate a sense of wonder in many visitors from foreign lands.

Our first priority should be for the future of our productive environment; the wellbeing of our people and their ability to contribute to the prosperity of our nation. Surely we should be very sure of what we are doing.

Yours faithfully,

Margaret Young.