Battling spin for brolgas

is a threatened species requiring action to protect it.

Ms D’Ambrosio says revised guidelines for wind farm impacts will be put up for public comment this year before new standards are set.

Ms D’Ambrosio, who did not directly respond to questions about data being omitted during the development of brolga buffer zones, says the guidelines will be informed by “diverse” data.

At Rokewood, old buffer zones are being challenged via Supreme Court action by Mr Cumming and local farmer Adam Walton, who face a legal bill beyond $350,000 if they lose.

The stakes are also high for Rokewood landowners with turbines on their properties.

They stand to gain about $15,000 a year per turbine. Even a lesser offer of $5000 per megawatt produced per turbine a year is an appealing carrot against the vagaries of farming.

Money may also be in the pipeline for landowners within 2km of turbines, and the wind farm proponent has committed to funding improvements around the town if the project is built.

With construction of the wind farm will come a 700strong workforce, increasing Rokewood’s population fourfold.

If completed, the Golden Plains wind farm is expected to generate enough power for more than 500,000 homes, and prevent more than 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere each year.

Since late last year, the project has been caught up in a legal fight that argues it should be reduced from more than 200 turbines to about 130.

Mr Cumming knows the stakes are high for all involved and that’s why he will continue to fight.