Author: Ashleigh Fielding

THE Denmark wind farm, contentious during its approval process like the Albany one before it, quietly celebrated five years of operation last week.

On a sunny February 20, five years since the big blades began turning, The Weekender joined wind farm directors on site to reflect on the impact of the farm that now supplies almost 60 per cent of household electricity across Denmark shire.

Member of the wind farm’s board Murray Thornton said the two white turbines had a 10-year gestation period.

“There were just so many bureaucratic, technical, financial and even emotional hurdles,” he recalled.

“For a lot of the objectors there were real strong emotions against it, and for the people who wanted it, there were real strong emotions for it.

“To actually get it done and then have it in production and have it running smoothly as per the projections is just great.”

“The sky hasn’t fallen in, and if you’re coming down to surf, it’s a great resource as you’re coming over the hill to see which direction the wind’s coming from.”

The wind farm is zoned to carry two more turbines, which Mr Thornton said would eventually be built.

“If there was another two turbines, I don’t think there’d be any noise, in terms of objections, whatsoever,” he forecast.

“Our ultimate dream is to have a micro-grid where Denmark can be independent from the state grid – and we’ve got wind, wave and solar and we can effectively go off the grid in terms of production.

“I think for small communities on the edge of the grid that’s a goal, and the State Government is pushing that up at Kalbarri at the moment, and we think Denmark’s a great place to do it in also.”

MEMBER for Albany Peter Watson has managed to wrestle the final $6.922 million needed to complete Stage 2 of the Centennial Park redevelopment out of Minister for Sport and Recreation Mick Murray.

At Centennial Park on Tuesday Mr Murray said the last injection of money would allow the City of Albany to execute the overall vision for the park developed in 2015 and would be a major drawcard for Albany once completed.

“Peter has been very active in making sure everything happens,” he said.

Mr Murray said Mr Watson had been in constant contact asking when the final round of funding would be made available.

“It’s important for the Albany community and important for the kids of Albany to have a safe and well-built place to play sports,” he said.

With the projected finishing date of October 2019 and an approximate total cost of $42 million, Mr Watson said once completed, the facility would be “just about state-of-the-art” for regional areas.

“Mick pushed through the funding pretty quick,” the former Olympic runner said.

“Centennial Park is going to be an important social and sporting aspect to the Albany community.

“This will be the best sporting facility in the Great Southern, and it will provide players and spectators with everything they need to enjoy their chosen sport.”

A NEW law that gives officials the power to fine residents $350 if they toss recyclable waste into their general waste or organic waste bins was unanimously approved at a meeting of Albany city councillors on Tuesday night.

As recently revealed by The Weekender (‘Rubbish mix-up could be costly’, February 15), ratepayers may now also be fined $350 if they place general waste in a recycling or organic waste bin, or organic waste in a general or recycling bin.

In a report to the councillors, the city’s manager for governance and risk, Stuart Jamieson, defined recyclable waste as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, steel and aluminium containers, liquid paperboard and any other waste determined by the city to be recyclable.

On November 22, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation consented to a draft of the local law.

Mr Jamieson advised that the law would need to go back to the department’s CEO for consideration if Albany’s elected officials suggested even minor changes.

If major changes had been requested, city officials would have needed to start the legislative drafting process over again.

He noted that “negative community feedback” could be a major consequence if the city failed to communicate and justify the new law adequately to residents.

The local law is based on a model prepared by the department and the WA Local Government Association.

The law also makes it legal, for commercial operators to pick up waste from verge collections.

On Tuesday night, Cr Sandie Smith said she was “really pleased” to support that part of the law.

“It’s a really good example of council listening to residents,” she said.