A wind up of the 2km setback

An anonymous submission to the draft NSW wind farm guidelines.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to fervently applaud the draft legislation being put forward, concerning the New South Wales planning guidelines for wind farms. I refer directly to section 1.3 (e) in the legislation, listed under 'Key matters in the assessment process". In this section, it is stated that, "The guidelines adopt a precautionary approach for the consideration of health issues." I squealed with delight upon reading this sentence, and also upon hearing it uttered by the Honourable Bradley Ronald Hazzard (BA, DipEd, LLB(NSW), LLM(Syd) MP), when he told the Sydney Morning Herald on January 24 that, “The jury is still out on the health impacts from wind farms. When it comes to people's health I'll take a precautionary approach every time."

Given that a complete absence of scientific evidence regarding the negative health impacts of wind turbines is sufficient reason to create a two kilometre setback for wind turbine generators from human residences, I would like to take this opportunity to submit a proposition, and a profoundly important one, at that. ‘Fan Death' is a phenomenon that is reported predominantly in South Korea, involving electric fans being left on overnight, chopping up the oxygen molecules in the room, and causing asphyxiation to those in the bedroom.

Some close-minded and under-zealous critics have stated that there is no possible physiological mechanism through which an electric fan could suffocate humans, and that there is no published scientific evidence of a causal link between fans and suffocation. They also point out that this does not occur throughout the rest of the world, where electric fans are used regularly. As you well know, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and therefore the jury is still out on the health impacts from electric fans.

When it comes to people's health, I hope you really do take the precautionary approach, every time. Thus, I propose a two kilometre setback for the installation and operation of electric fans. I hope you can understand the importance of basing governmental policy on small quantities of anecdotal reports. The greatest moments of progress in society always stem from the instantaneous disregard of scientific inquiry. I sincerely anticipate your inclusion of electric fans into the draft NSW planning guidelines.

Thank you.

*Name withheld by request