1. To make contact with Councillors, prior to Wednesday's Council meeting, 26th June, 3pm.
2. Attend Wednesday's Council meeting, 26th June, 3pm.
|
|
|
Walcha Council’s general manager, has recommended Council 'endorse' the Winterbourne Wind VPA , despite 62 community submissions objecting to Council’s endorsement.
|
|
|
|
The Council has noted in their business paper, P33 onwards, that they received 80 submissions from the community. 18 were in favour of signing the VPA with no changes, meaning 62 were opposed.
|
Despite this, and the clear message in the recent community meeting that the Council is prepared to consider the many community requests in meetings and submissions prior to finalising the VPA, the recommendation stands as ...
|
RECOMMENDATION: That Council,
|
1. ENDORSE the WinterbourneWind Pty Ltd Voluntary Planning Agreement and delegate to the General Manager to finalise and execute on behalf of Council.
|
We feel that this is a totally flawed process, clearly not in the community interest, and in breach of expectations of probity and transparency. Despite the clear precedence of submissions being previously published with personal details redacted, this is not being done with the recent submission dealing with the VPA (Voluntary Panning Agreement). We feel it is absurd that with such a large sum of money being considered, and so much community interest as demonstrated by the volume of submissions, that this practice has suddenly changed.
We believe that the Councillors have been convinced that they have no ability to make a difference, that they just have to simply follow the process of signing. To the contrary, this is the Council’s opportunity to make a difference. Tamworth Council has withheld signing with the developer for Hills of Gold Wind Farm at Nundle, (as noted by our Mayor in the recent community meeting) despite the project being approved. It is a strong statement of lack of support for an unsatisfactory VPA that they believe does not benefit the community. There is no rush.
We need our community members to get in contact with our Councillors, and urge them to delay the signing of the VPA until it has been properly reviewed, and to deal with issues raised in recent submissions.
Please point out to your Councillors that this VPA does not have community support. The submissions are clear evidence of this. This is not a process that the Councillors just have to follow and they should not endorse the VPA just to keep the developer and the planning department happy.
The messge is DO NOT ENDORSE THE VPA until it is ready, and to deal with issues raised in the recent submissions;
|
- Consider the community view. 18 in favour of VPA signing are most likely beneficiaries. Please demonstrate transparency.
|
- Upfront portion of the agreement increased to ensure greater security
|
- Greater understanding of who is the counter signatory. (It is NOT Vestas, but a non-beneficially held shareholder of Winterbourne Wind, set up for this process). Do they have the capacity to pay, and is the document legally binding and secure?
|
- Legal clarity about definitions, payment start date, decommissioning etc. Decommissioning needs to be defined as removal of material from the Walcha LGA etc etc.
|
- At least wait until the Response to Submissions, so that the Council better understands the project. This is due only days away - why not wait and consider the community view in the meantime?
|
- Appreciate that this is an important role for the Council to play, to advocate for the COMMUNITY, and not to be pressured by the developer to assist the project through the planning process by signing the VPA.
|
|
|
Councillor contact details:
council@walcha.nsw.gov.au and ask for the message to be forwarded through to all Councillors and General Manager.
|
|
|
Thank you for everyone who made a submission, and for playing a part in this important process. We keep asking for your help, and we appreciate your action. A talk with the Councillors will hopefully bring the issue onto the table for them, rather than it being left in the hands of our Mayor and General Manager, who are keen to sign this off without delay.
We also would encourage anyone who is available on Wednesday 26 June 2024 at 3:00pm to attend the meeting at the Walcha Council Chambers.
|
|
|
If you haven't done this yet please click below to sign up, even if you are also a subscriber and tick the box stating : "I support the actions of Voice for Walcha, in their communications and activity, through my membership". To show your support, and to strengthen our influence.
|
|
|
Copyright (C) 2024 Voice For Walcha. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is:
Voice For Walcha PO BOX 230 Walcha, NSW 2354 Australia
Reply to this mail with the word "unsubscribe" to be removed from our mailing list
|
|
|
|
