Wednesday, February 08, 2012

 

No wind turbines for Shellharbour

 

Wind turbines might be popping up in many areas, buy they won't be in Shellharbour City.

 

Councillors last night voted on the issue, with 3 for and 3 against and Mayor Kellie Marsh had the deciding vote.

 

She says she wants to preserve the natural environment.

 

"The actual motion was that any commercial wind farms and wind turbines that are erected are more than likely to detract from the economic and social benefits of the community and furthermore there hasn't been enough research into the effects of wind turbine syndrome, so Council has basically stated that we do not want commercial wind farms in Shellharbour City.

 

Deputy Mayor Marianne Saliba says she doesn't support the decision.

 

"I think that every application should come before the full council and the full council should be able to make decisions at that time based on the needs of the city and the impacts that will have on our community."

 

Meantime Shellharbour Council has moved a motion calling on the State Government to introduce legislation to phase exotic animals out of circuses.

 

It comes after Councillor Peter Moran wanted such circuses to be stopped from operating on Council land.

 

But Deputy Mayor Marianne Saliba says that ban was defeated at last night's Council meeting.

 

"Putting a ban on Council land in Shellharbour City only stops the circuses from setting up on Council land. They could set up on private land, or they can set up in Kiama or Wollongong, we weren't actually doing anything to alleviate the problems of the exotic animals in circuses. So by calling on the State Government to take action, we believe that we've got a far better chance of actually seeing something come out of that."

 

Shellharbour Council has also sent a submission to the Local Government Remuneration

 

Tribunal asking for Councillors' $16,000 allowance to be increased, to better reflect their workload.