Right across Regional Australia, there are many, many proposed renewable energy infrastructure projects. All of these have some arrangements
for the landholders hosting the facilities. Many of these arrangements are also unacceptable, however only a handful of these projects include any compensation
for neighbours.
Some private developers have incentives for close neighbours.
Government projects such as transmission lines have no compensation for neighbours. The Victorian government has recently released a policy
covering "screening and vegetation", but once again - no compensation for fall in property values.
Disadvantages include:
- Financial implications due to the devaluation of assets, particularly residences.
- Drastic changes to rural living conditions.
- A range of unquantified side-effects as wide ranging as Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) through to insurance penalties and many more.
The issues and quantum around neighbours are likely more serious and widespread than a first glance might conclude.
Just on the VNI West and WRL transmission lines thousands of people will suffer tens of millions of dollars loss, without compensation.
If this wasn't the government it would be reported in the media as a gigantic scam.
Multiply that across wind farms, solar farms, battery installations as well as transmission lines - it's enormous.
These are not "paper" losses by people living in regional Australia. An owner could be faced with a lower deposit for a next home, lower reserves for an aged care deposit, lack of funds to invest in a small business and so on. This is a massive loss of value for Regional Australia.
All this is particularly distressing for those with neighbouring residences. Check out the modelling tool to get an idea of the size of this issue.
Fairness and equity for neighbours