Annex 11 A Community Perception Studies

The discussions in Section 11.7.2 are also supported by many other studies undertaken in Australia, NZ, the UK and the USA.  Some of these studies are summarised below in Annex A.

A.1                                    Gullen Range Wind Farm– Community Perception Towards Wind Farms

A study to ascertain the regions view towards wind farms was conducted from the 27^th of July and concluded on the 2^nd of August 2007.  This study was previously quoted in the Planning Application Report for the Gullen Range Wind Farm.  The study area included the Goulburn – Crookwell – Yass regions, which are located within the Southern Tablelands area in NSW.  This area is known to high wind speeds and therefore has potential for wind energy projects. 

The respondents in this study were located in small urban and rural locations within the immediate vicinity of the proposed Gullen Range Wind Farm; however the study also selected residents further to the west around Gunning and Yass, to the North West at Binalong, to the east towards Crookwell and to the south east towards Goulburn.  

Within the study area, an existing wind farm, known as Crookwell I, is located to the immediate east of Crookwell Township and an approved wind farm (Crookwell II), to the immediate south of Crookwell I. Further approved wind farms are located to the south east known as Walwa-Gunning and Cullerin Range. Located further to the west, to the west of Yass, is the approved wind farm at Conroys Gap. 

At the beginning of the study, it wasn’t known just how much respondents knew of these wind farm projects, what they knew of wind farms, what the wind turbine that populated and powered them looked like, or know what it actually did. This study examines community perceptions towards renewable wind energy, derived from wind farms, for the region of south east NSW and establishes baseline data on community perceptions in the study area.

Results have shown an approval rating of almost 9 in 10 (89%) respondents in favour of wind farm projects being developed in the Southern Tablelands.  With over 9 in 10 (96%) of respondents agreeing ‘wind energy is a good alterative energy source’, see Figure A.1.

Figure A.1      Support for wind farms

Further to this, most respondents (83% favour, 8% opposed) were accepting of a wind farm set back 10 km from their home, with a slight decrease to 7 in 10 respondents (71% Favour, 19% opposed) accepting a wind farm set one kilometre from their home, see Figure A.2.  This is a very similar level of acceptance that has been identified in other studies. 

Figure A.2      Support for wind farms near respondent's residence

As well as the statistical similarity in the level of support between sites in Victoria and NSW, there is also a similarity ion the level of support when a wind farm is proposed within 1 km of a respondent’s residence and if it is located on some of the most scenic of Victoria’s coastline (Kanos & Quint, 2000, cited in Section 2.2.1).

In response to introducing the concept of multiple ‘typical’ (15 to 80 turbines) wind farms in the local rural area, respondents accepted 76% (19% opposed) one typical wind farm, with three typical wind farms accepted by 64% (27% opposed)  see Figure A.3.

Figure A.3      Support for multiple wind farms

Figure A.3 again highlights the remarkably consistent levels of approval for one or more wind farms in the area.  The lowest level of acceptance at 64% for three wind farms is again very similar to the levels of support shown for the most sensitive of locations, weather with one kilometre of the respondent’s house or on coastal headlands along Victoria’s coast.

The study also found that the community has no clear preference between a few clusters, close together, or spread out at reasonable intervals along the highway.   Therefore it would seem that this landscape can absorb future wind farm developments, as the community has not a strong preference.

This study shows the adult residents in the survey area are concerned about global warming and are aware of the alternatives available. The study also shows respondents know and understand what a wind turbine is, how wind farms appear in the landscape and are supportive of them. 

Moreover when it comes to locating wind farms, respondents are not averse to having them in their immediate locality, and a majority still approving of a wind farm within one kilometre of their home.

It is suggested that respondents feel the creation of wind farms is positive and this study shows that many are prepared to embrace them in their local area.

These outcomes are remarkably consistent with results from other surveys conducted both within Australia and overseas and a clear pattern is emerging on the acceptance of wind farms in rural communities.

A.2                                    Other Australian Community Perception Studies

The following section builds upon ERM’s discussion of perception issues in past visual assessments of other wind farms and is pertinent to the visual and landscape assessment of the proposed Ararat Wind Farm. 

A.2.1                              Coastal Headlands

In 2000, a study was undertaken for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (Kantos & Quint, 2000) on the many issues concerning the Victorian Coastline including the construction of wind farms on coastal headlands. 

Figure A.4 summarises the results of this particular component. The study involved a series of nine workshops as well as telephone interviews (n = 700).

Figure A.4      Wind farms on Coastal Headlands – Participant Responses

Study participants initial support or opposition to the construction of wind farms on coastal headlands was measured. After being exposed to arguments on renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change issues their responses were measured again.  This study found that there was only a slight increase in participants’ acceptance of wind farms on coastal headlands, from a 65% acceptance level before arguments on greenhouse gas emissions to 68% acceptance after these arguments were presented.  However opposition reduced from 27% to 21%.

A.2.2                              Nirranda Wind Farm

Similar figures have been found in a 2002 visitor survey undertaken for Stanwell Corporation Limited (Offer Sharp & Associates 2002) on the possible visual impacts of the proposed wind farm on the Bay of Islands viewing platform that is located adjacent to the Nirranda site, in the Shire of Moyne approximately 250 km west of Melbourne.

Approximately 80% of people were generally in support of wind farms, however when presented with a proposal for a wind farm visible from a scenic coastal lookout (the Bay of Islands) the support for a wind farm at this location reduced to approximately 71%, whilst opposition to the presence of a wind farm at this location increased from 3% to 12%. 

Figure A.5      Nirranda Wind Farm Respondents Attitudes to Wind Farms

This figure of 71% support for wind farms is similar to the Kantos & Quint result of 68% reported previously for wind farms on exposed coastal headland.

A.2.3                              Yaloak Wind Farm

Research undertaken by Offer Sharp & Associates, 2004 presented at the Yaloak Wind Farm panel hearing in 2005 showed a similar level of community acceptance to wind farms on this inland site near Ballan, Victoria. 

The study assessed community reaction to images of a wind farm in the Yaloak landscape as well as at another site at Crowlands in Western Victoria.  Neither location was identified, however the Yaloak proposal had been publicised for some time before the survey and the landscape may have been recognised by some, and particularly local, respondents.  Community reaction to the siting of wind turbines in these landscapes was based on interviews with 200 respondents from each of Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat.

Figure A.6      Level of Support for Potential Wind Farms at Yaloak and Crowland

This data has been extracted from Table 15 Crowlands and Table 19 Yaloak in the Offer Sharp & Associates 2004 report and illustrates the acceptance levels for wind farms of each of these sites.  The study also found slight differences in levels of support at Crowlands (67%, 66% and 73%) for respondents from Melbourne, Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat respectively, and slightly larger differences (61%, 55% and 68%) in support for the proposed wind farm at Yaloak. 

However, the overall findings are similar of the earlier studies from the earlier Kantos & Quinn 2000 and Offer, Sharp 2002.  All these Australian studies continually show a level of acceptance greater than 60%.  Overseas studies show similar results.

A.3                                    United Kingdom

A paper presented at the 20th British Wind Energy Association Conference (Anne Marie Simon Planning, 1996) gives an overview of thirteen studies undertaken between 1990 and 1996 by wind power proponents, opposition groups, the BBC, statutory authorities and a Liverpool University dissertation found that in all these studies: 

·            The overwhelming majority of respondents support the principal of development of wind power in the UK, and they also support their local wind farm;

·            Those with direct experience of an operating wind farm are more supportive and positive than those without experience;

·            Once wind farms are in operation, concerns about noise and visual impact decrease;

·            The majority of people find the wind farms acceptable in the landscape and more find the wind turbines graceful than ugly; and

·            A strong majority support and a small minority oppose wind farms, with more expressing no opinion than opposition (Freris 1998).

A summary of the results for eleven of these studies, which is taken from this paper (Anne Marie Simon Planning, 1996), are reproduced below.

 

Table A.1        Summary of Eleven Studies Conducted in the United Kingdom into Attitudes to Wind Power from 1990-96

Location	Sponsor/Organiser	Date	In favour	Against	Don't know
Delabole, England	DTI	1992/3	84%	4%	11%
Cemmaes, Wales	DTI	1992/3	86%	1%	13%
Llandinam & Llangwyryfon, Wales	CCW	1992/3	83% 78%	3% 8%	14% 14%
Llandinam Rhyd-y-Groes Taff Ely, Wales	BBC	1994	76% 61% 74%	17% 32% 9%	8% 7% 17%
Kirkby Moor, England	National Wind Power	1994	82%	9%	9%
Bryn Titli, Wales	NWP (pre construction) NWP (open day)	1996	68% 94%	14% 3%	19% 3%
Trysglwyn, Wales	NWP (open day)	1996	96%	4%	-
Coal Clough, England	Liverpool University Dissertation	1996	96%	4%	-

Notes
NWP = National Wind Power (a wind farm developer).
CCW = Countryside Council for Wales (a statutory body)
BBC = BBC (Wales) and the University of Wales

In all these studies between 61% and 96% of survey respondents were supportive of wind power.

Figure A.7      Comparison of Selected Wind Farm Community Perception Studies in the United Kingdom

The lowest level of acceptance was one area within the BBC 1994 study which looked at attitudes towards wind farms in Wales (Interviews with 268 respondents, conducted in two stages; stage one being just after the wind farm was built and stage two one year later). The BBC study also looked at three locations, Llandinam, Rhyd-y-Groes and Taff Ely) with the lowest support for the wind farm at Rhyd-y-Groes with 61% support and 32% against, whilst overall the BBC study found that 67% of respondents were in favour of the development of wind power in Wales, and 21% were opposed. 

The highest approval was that reported in the Coal Clough (Lancashire, England) study (Questionnaire completed by face to face interviews, sample of 50) with 96% approval and 4% opposition.

These figures are similar to those reported in the Australian studies.

A.4                                    Scotland & Ireland

A recent study (November 2005) on community perception of wind farms in Scotland and Ireland also has similar, but higher approval ratings. (found at http://www.your-energy.co.uk/pdf/windfarmpaper121205.pdf).

Table A.2        Comparison of levels of acceptance between wind farms in Scotland and Ireland

	Strongly support		Support		Neutral		Oppose		Strongly oppose
	DL (%)	BH (%)	DL (%)	BH (%)	DL (%)	BH (%)	DL (%)	BH (%)	DL (%)	BH (%)
A. Wind power is Scotland	55	55	35	22	6	16	2	0	2	7
B. Local wind farm	63	47	25	16	3	20	3	4	5	13

DL = Dun Law (operational site). BH = Black Hill (proposed site).

(from Public Perceptions of Wind Power in Scotland and Ireland, Charles R. Warren, Carolyn Lumsden, Simone O’Dowd & Richard V. Birnie, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Vol. 48, No. 6, 853 – 875, November 2005, Table 4, p862).

 

Figure A.8      Acceptance levels - Scotland and Ireland

Once again this reconfirms that the high level of acceptance, and this report also goes further and shows the increased level of acceptance within a community following construction.  This is discussed in the next section of this report.

A.5                                    North Carolina, USA

Reported attitudes in a study from North Carolina (NC) in the USA are also similar.  A paper prepared on public attitudes (Grady 2004) towards wind energy in eastern NC, which included coastal areas, and western NC, which includes mountainous areas, presented to the ‘Efficient NC Conference’ also found similar degrees of approval. Note: There was no information in this paper on the sample size.

 

Table A.3        Public Attitude to Placement of Wind Farms in Eastern NC

Placement	% Prohibited	% Not prohibited	% Don’t know
Mainland	11.9	72.8	15.3
Mainland clustered	14.1	69.6	15.1
Sounds	16.6	63.6	19.8
Sounds clustered	28.0	50.2	20.5
Offshore	13.9	68.6	17.6
Offshore clustered	14.4	68.6	15.8

Table A.3 shows the level of acceptance for clusters of wind turbines reduced to 50% for the Sounds which are the coastal areas along the eastern seaboard of North Carolina.  The level of acceptance for clustered groups of wind turbines in the mainland area rose to 69.6%.

This paper (Grady, 2004) also presented levels of acceptance within the more mountainous areas of Western NC.

Table A.4        Public Attitudes to Wind Farm Placement – Western NC

Placement	% Prohibited	% Not prohibited	% Don’t know
Ridge tops	20	64	17
Ridge tops clustered	28	57	15
Ridge tops with other towers	16	75	10

The western area of Northern Carolina is mountainous; many parts are uncleared and show few signs of human intervention.  The level of acceptance for clustered groups of wind turbines on ridge tops in this area is less (57%) than the level of acceptance reported for the mainland areas of Eastern NC (69%), however if there are other towers on the ridge tops (i.e. there are obvious signs of human intervention) then the level of acceptance rises to 75%.

Figure A.9      Acceptance Levels - Northern Carolina, USA

In summary this paper reported that:

·        “Within groups of middle aged, middle class, pragmatic, year round residents of the mountain and coastal regions of NC, there is support for developing renewable energy as a future source of fuel for electricity generation.

·        More than 3 out of 4 would prefer to see more future electricity derived from solar and wind

·         Less support for turbines in sounds or national forests

·        2 out of 3 support turbines visible from home

·        Over 80% support turbines for residential use.”(Grady, 2004)

 

The degree to which the respondents believe that wind farms on mainland sites should not be prohibited is very similar to the previously cited United Kingdom and Australian studies; with between 69-73% believing that wind farms should not be prohibited.

A.6                                    Perception Alteration after Construction

There has been no research done on the visual impact of wind farms in Australia after construction, however overseas studies suggest greater acceptance levels by people who live in the vicinity of wind farms after their construction (Gipe n.d.)

Anne Marie Simon Planning and Research in the previously cited study also found that all studies that looked at perceptions before and after construction, reported an increase in acceptance after the Wind Farm was completed.

It is also interesting to note that the study on Scotland and Ireland (cited above) also shows a 27% increase in acceptance following construction, although the greatest proportion of people who changed their mind were in the “neutral or undecided” group, there was still a significant reduction from 17% to 4% in the group that opposed the wind farms.

This study supports the view that familiarity does not increase opposition to a wind farm, but rather increases acceptance and support for wind turbines in the landscape.