Battle is won on wind farm
War graves will remain undisturbed
A PROPOSAL to build a wind farm on Australian war graves in France has been abandoned.
French energy giant Engie Group has pulled the proposal to build wind turbines on the site where thousands of Australians died during the Battle of Bullecourt in 1917.
Frederick James Betts and J.E Lincoln, both from Portarlington, and Drysdale trio Raymond Alfred Benham, H.S Davis and F.W Gray all died during the Battle of Bullecourt.
Ernest Bugge, the greatuncle of Portarlington resident John Bugge, also died during the World War I battle.
Earlier this month he told the Geelong Advertiser that building a wind farm on the site between Bullecourt and Riencourt-les-Cagnicourt in northern France would sully the sacrifice made by thousands of Australians.
Mr Bugge said the Battle of Bullecourt was a significant event in the Bellarine Peninsula’s war history.
“The population of Drys- dale during World War 1 was about 750 and they lost three of their own on the one day during the Battle of Bullecourt,” Mr Bugge said.
He said the proposal elicited outrage among the region’s war veteran community.
“Common sense has prevailed. The proposal could have been the thin edge of the wedge which could have led to other graves being built over.”
He thanked Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan for his efforts.
Mr Tehan said it was wonderful news for every Australian and especially those with a family connection to the Battle of Bullecourt.
“Some 2300 Australians who died at Bullecourt have no known grave and Australians were rightly concerned about the potential impact of a construction project at the site,” he said.
“Seeing how passionate Australians were about protecting the final resting place of the Bullecourt soldiers was a powerful reminder that we will never forget the service and sacrifice of the men and women who fight for our freedom and values.”
Engie’s Australia and New Zealand chief executive, Michel Gantois, wrote to Mr Tehan confirming the project would not proceed.
“Engie Green listened carefully and respectfully to the arguments put forward and has decided that this ground should remain undisturbed, to be a place of reflection and commemoration for generations to come,” Mr Gantois wrote.