Furracabad & Matheson Valleys Community Information

Many residents have expressed serious concerns regarding the long-term impacts this industrial-scale development would have on the Furracabad and Matheson Valleys and the surrounding rural communities. These concerns are not about opposition to renewable energy in general, but rather the suitability of this particular location and the significant, irreversible impacts the proposed development would have on nearby residents, farming operations, rural amenity, environmental values, and the long-term character of these valleys.

The proposed development, comprising 25 or more wind turbines standing approximately 250 metres high, together with access roads and extensive construction activity, would fundamentally alter the rural landscape. Residents are concerned that such a large-scale industrial project would reduce the desirability, liveability and long-term market value of neighbouring non-host properties. Many local families have invested generations of hard work into their homes, farms and businesses and are deeply concerned about the financial impacts and social division this development would create within the community.

A major concern consistently raised by non-host landowners is the devaluation of surrounding rural properties. Residents also believe the project would create additional costs and difficulties for farming operations, including aerial fertiliser application, pest eradication activities, stock management and day-to-day farm productivity.

Further concerns raised by residents include visual intrusion across the valley landscapes, ongoing noise impacts, shadow flicker, aviation warning lights, increased heavy vehicle traffic, damage and pressure on local roads, and major disruption during the construction phase. The scale of the proposal — including 25 towers supporting 75 blades of approximately 100 metres in length — would introduce a significant industrial presence into what is currently a quiet rural farming district.

Residents are also concerned about potential impacts on livestock, biodiversity, native wildlife, environmental values and bushfire risk. In addition, there is strong concern regarding the long-term social impacts on the community, including division between host and non-host landowners, pressure placed on neighbouring residents, and the permanent change to the identity and character of the Furracabad and Matheson Valleys.

Developments of this scale are considered incompatible with the existing rural landscape, lifestyle and sense of community that local families have worked hard to preserve over many decades.