Opinion Articles

How close is “too close” for a 300-metre tall wind turbine?

There are moments in public policy when you read a document, glance at the date, and briefly wonder whether someone has accidentally fed the printer a filing from another era. The Western Australian Planning Commission’s draft Renewable Energy Planning Code is one such moment. Released for public comment at the end of 2025, it poses a question of pressing contemporary relevance: how close to your house should a 300-metre-tall wind turbine be built? This would

Trevor Whittington February 17, 2026

Submissions

Draft Renewable Energy Planning Code – Submission to the WAPC

Draft Renewable Energy Planning Code Submission to the Western Australian Planning Commission Executive Summary This submission responds to the Draft Renewable Energy Planning Code released for public consultation in December 2025. It focuses on wind energy facilities and large-scale solar developments in rural and agricultural areas, grounded in established principles of property law, nuisance, and planning discretion. The draft Code adopts a lowest-common-denominator approach to setbacks, noise, shadow flicker, and visual amenity. It relies heavily

Darren Brown February 1, 2026