Pines Wind Farm update

September 25, 2025

The promoters of the Pines Wind Farm have held several information sessions for local residents but the event at Black Springs on September 18 was a little different. This time the media heard from three local residents who spoke favourably about the project, and there was also more information made available about the possible benefits to the area.

The first speaker was Andrew Riggs, Managing Partner, TagEnergy, who gave an overview of the project and addressed some of the concerns such as decommissioning at the end of the project life cycle and the Neighbourhood Deed conditions.

Next was Matthew Parton, Managing Director, Stromlo Energy, who added some more details about where the project is going and when. He also addressed some concerns, such as the fire danger from the turbines. The major cause of forest fires is lightning, and the towers will be so far above the forest canopy that they will act as lightning rods. The turbines will be turned off and stop spinning in the event of a fire, allowing fire fighting aircraft to safely maneuver between the towers. (The second largest cause of fires is arson, and that can't be blamed on wind farms in any way.)

Two documents were made available that answer some of the questions that are continually being asked.

Decommissioning and other answers -
click for a copy of the document

Project benefits - click for a copy of the document

While any projections of the future must be treated with at least a small amount of skepticism, rejecting everything and claiming that the project promoters can't be trusted, as some opponents of the project have been saying, is neither a valid nor useful approach. Good faith has to be assumed until evidence to reject it can be demonstrated.

The speakers from the project were followed by three locals who had favourable things to say.

Local farmer Matt Haines is quite excited about the benefits he sees coming to him from participation in the project. Farming is an unpredictable business, and the guaranteed income from the project means that he has a buffer against the bad times. He saw the impact on agriculture as being nothing except positive.

Alanah Gambi from the Black Springs Community Association spoke about the grants that have come as part of the project's contributions to the community. These grants allow for things to be done that otherwise would have to be postponed or not done at all. Some of the grants have allowed for the refurburbishment of the kitchen at the Black Springs Community Hall and the creation of a children's play space in the hall. (As an aside, members of the hall committee have been criticised for accepting the grants and have been accused of accepting bribes. This is again not a useful way to convince people that the wind farm is not a good idea.)

Glen Stewart from the Oberon Show Society was also grateful for grants that made it possible to do things at the showground and the annual show that make events better and allow more attractions to appear at the show. He didn't see any downside to getting money to do things that otherwise the Show Society would never be able to afford to do.

After the talks and some interviews, the media (TV, radio and press) were taken out into Mount David State Forest to see where some of the proposed towers will be constructed. Unfortunately, Oberon Matters was delayed by one of the protestors outside the hall asking about journalist qualifications and making accusations of bias and didn't make it out into the forest until too late (the TV people had to scurry off to do some editing before evening's bulletins). The two videos below show what was presented to the media.

Video used by some of the TV programs. Video supplied

Some photos taken on the day. Photos supplied

Disclaimer: Oberon Matters has no opinion either way on the matter of wind towers near Oberon. This article is for public information only. Please see our position of total neutrality.

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