Country
Australia
Date of text
Status
Decided
Sources
Sabin Center
Court name
Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Seat of court
Victoria
Reference number
VCAT 922
Tagging
Climate Change
Abstract

Local residents challenged the grant of permission to develop a 12-turbine windfarm on various grounds, ranging from visual flicker to the interaction of residual electromagnetic waves with radio and microwaves. The Tribunal considered evidence about each, including expert testimony on several issues, before determining that the grant of permission should be upheld. As the Tribunal explained, its decision was the result of a balancing of interests and considerations, including the difficulty of locating physical circumstances that are both well-suited to the emplacement of turbines and accessible to a branch of the electricity grid.

Key environmental legal questions

Permission to develop windfarm despite adverse local impacts