Windfarms

The Department of Health is actively managing public concerns regarding alleged public health effects of wind farms on Victorian residents.

Our three main activities include:

1. Listening to and engaging with communities
2. Reviewing scientific evidence and supporting the National Health and Medical Research Council
3. Working across government to clarify roles and responsibilities, and improve compliance, complaints mechanisms and planning.

Listening to and engaging with communities

Representatives from the Department of Health have met with affected residents in the Ballarat region, representatives from the Waubra Foundation and the Victorian Landscape Guardians. The purpose of these meetings was to understand the reported health issues of affected residents, clarify roles and responsibilities of community groups and Government, and maintain transparent communication channels with Victorian residents.

Reviewing scientific evidence and supporting the NHMRC

The Department of Health has examined the available scientific literature on wind farms and accepts Australia's peak health body advice – the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – which has released a public statement confirming that there is no published scientific evidence to support adverse health effects of wind turbines on health.

The Department is supportive of the ongoing NHMRC review of the evidence and the NHMRC process to identify any gaps in the evidence on this issue, and explore possible collaborations within the health, environmental health, planning, industry and community sectors to progress this issue.

Working across Government

The Department of Health is working across government to promote a consistent and credible response to the issue of wind farms in Victoria by working to improve compliance, complaints mechanisms and planning. Our partners include:

• local government
• the Environment Protection Authority
• Department of Planning and Community Development
• Department of Sustainability and the Environment and
• Department of Primary Industries.

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