Senior development manager of government and regulatory affairs Jonathan Upson was the sole speaker for Infigen Energy and said that while $4 billion has been spent within Australia on the development of wind farms, Australia was well behind the rest of the world in the use of turbines and was “not the proving ground” for wind energy.

He also said the two kilometre setback distance from a non-host residence was completely

arbitrary and that adequate research had been done into health effects.

According to Infigen the industry is doubling every three years and generating 20 per cent of South Australia’s electricity.

With the 33 proposed turbines at Bodangora, enough electricity would be provided to power over 300,000 households.

Other speakers, such as Dr Sarah Laurie of the Waubra Foundation, felt that not enough was known about turbines and that a moratorium should be placed on their development.

Councillor Malcolm Barlow of the Upper Lachlan said he had watched the issue destroy communities.

His advice was for people to do their own research, adding that council should have a development control plan based upon research and community input.

Spokesperson for the Wind Turbine Awareness Group Lyn Jarvis said she was pleased to finally take part in a community discussion on the issue – something she felt the Wellington community had previously been denied.

“The important thing is that we are talking,” meeting chair Mike Inkster said.

“The day rural communities stop talking is the day they die.”