Wind farm owners denied turbines were too loud, yet claimed compensation for them – The Age

I still hear the turbines over everything. Whenever theres been a few really bad nights in a row, I drive my car down to the beach and sleep in it. Your body feels tight, your head feels in a compressive state. You just have to get out of the place.

For Mr Uren, who moved to a different property three years ago, it was the unpredictability of the turbine noise that most triggered him.

It was worse in cold weather and when the wind came from a certain direction. Some days Id look at the forecast, see cold days and dread the roaring I knew was on the way.

The duos grievances have culminated in a challenge in the states highest court that will hear both sides final arguments on Tuesday.

The case typifies an increasingly common dispute in Victoria: residents protesting against the installation of noisy wind farms in what is a rapidly expanding sector.

As the Andrews government pursues its emissions reductions targets of 28 to 33 per cent by 2025 and 45 to 50 per cent by 2030, at least 14 of the states 34 wind farms have been built since 2015. A further 22 are under construction or awaiting approval.

Similarly to Mr Zakula and Mr Uren, the construction of a 215-turbine, $2 billion wind farm in Golden Plains Shire, west of Melbourne, has been unsuccessfully challenged by local farmer Hamish Cumming on three occasions.

Wind farms have surged as Premier Daniel Andrews government pursues ambitious emissions reduction targets.Credit:Getty Images

A Supreme Court challenge against a 26-turbine wind farm by 25 residents from Hawkesdale, south-west Victoria, was also unsuccessful in August.

Win or lose, Mr Zakula, represented by Dominica Tannock from DST Legal, hopes his case emboldens others in his situation to question how the industry operates.

Its costing us a fortune against these big multinational mobs. Id like the entire compliance regime to be investigated and reconsidered after this, he says.

On the second day of the trial, Justice Melinda Richards started by noting her associate received a phone call that morning from Andrew Dyer, the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner and former national wind farm commissioner.

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Mr Dyer apparently wanted to let me know that there is a range of resources on his offices website and he also offered to speak with me about issues in the case, she said.

Needless to say, I will not be consulting the website and I will not be speaking with Mr Dyer.

Mr Dyer apologised to the court later that week.

After starting the case as a group of 12 last year, Mr Zakula and Mr Uren are the only remaining plaintiffs following mediation and the death of two group members.

Living off-grid, Mr Zakula is keen to dispel any suggestions he or his neighbours are anti-renewables.

I live down here to enjoy the environment. I havent been able to do that for years.

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Wind farm owners denied turbines were too loud, yet claimed compensation for them - The Age