Lyn Lenehan, The Buloke Times

It’s hard explaining to city people why wind farms are so bad and why they destroy lives and livelihoods.

There is a list of reasons, but one stands out the most – the loss of enjoyment of one’s land.

If people are fortunate enough to choose where they live, they will live in an area that brings them enjoyment.

Enjoyment of one’s land

For example, city people love city life.

They love the hustle and bustle and all things that living in the city brings them.

They love the social life, coffee with friends, fine dining and the theatre.

They love pubs and clubs and street cafes.

They love their arcades – and will spend the whole day shopping as therapy. They don’t play footy; they go to the footy. They put on their exercise gear to get the groceries. They get all dressed up with no clothes on and go out on the town in the middle of winter.

That’s what city people do. They love it. That’s how they enjoy their land.

On the other hand, country people love the open spaces.

They love the simple things, the peace and quiet and the endless views. They love their animals and the wildlife, and they love to sleep peacefully at night.

They come together as communities, often for a meal on Thursday nights after football training or to raise money for necessities like new tennis nets.

Enjoyment of one’s land is personal

It is a personal thing, the enjoyment of one’s land. It can’t really be explained to others as they don’t share the same experience of enjoyment.

What happens when the enjoyment is removed?

People choose to live where they live because they enjoy the land, but what happens when that enjoyment of one’s land is forcibly removed?

What happens when the reason for living in a special place is ripped away?

How does this affect one’s life?

Covid lockdown

In 2020, the Victorian Government locked down Melbourne to save the world from Covid.

City people were forced into social isolation. Suddenly the reason for living in the city was gone. They had lost the enjoyment of their land.

Those who could afford it fled the city and bought houses in the country. But most were stuck; grounded in their apartments, many lost their incomes, and all were socially isolated.

Although it was only for a few short months the impact was immense. City people went mad. They became psychologically traumatised, depressed and angry, some even protested in the streets.

Country people were not really impacted, they carried on as normal, happily knowing the city people were shouldering the load.

Wind farms

Wind farms do to country people what Covid did to the city dwellers.

Wind farms forcibly remove the enjoyment of one’s land.

Wind farms destroy the peace and quiet of country living. They kill off endangered wildlife and impact people’s health and wellbeing. People lose their precious views, their properties are devalued, they can’t sleep at night and they wake up angry.

Community cohesion is lost. Neighbour is pitted against neighbour. Women lose their lifelong friends, and the men refuse to go on committees with those who signed agreements with the wind farm.

The period of carrying the load

The only difference between Covid lockdown and windfarms is the period in which the load is to be carried by others.

Covid lockdown was short lived, but country people are impacted by wind farms for life. Once they are built, people lose the enjoyment of their land forever.

The psychological and physiological impacts are ongoing. Living on land next to a wind farm is a living hell.

Wind farms forcibly remove the enjoyment of one’s land for life.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 19 July 2024.