AMA statement provides peace of mind for communities near wind farms

Communities living near wind farms have every reason to feel reassured about their safety after the Australian Medical Association (AMA) released a public statement on wind farms and health.

Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh says the AMA’s position statement came on top of similar recommendations by the NSW and Victorian health departments, the South Australian Environmental Protection Agency and the Association of Australian Acoustical Consultants that there was no evidence to link wind farms and adverse health effects.

“The National Health and Medical Research Council, the national peak body for health research, also released a draft position statement several weeks ago that stated there was ‘no reliable or consistent evidence that proximity to wind farms or wind farm noise is directly associated with health effects’,” Marsh said.

“No credible Australian health or acoustic organisations are opposing wind farms, and people should feel reassured by that.

“Unfortunately we have seen a misinformation campaign on this issue waged by opponents, and communities have sadly been caught in the crossfire.”

According to Marsh, it has never been more important for wind farm companies to engage in good faith with people living in the vicinity of wind power projects.

The Clean Energy Council has developed community engagement guidelines for wind farms and a community expectations guide.

The AMA position statement is available here.