A recent article by Liz Cotton in the Australian (reprinted at the anti-wind website Wind Watch) quotes a range of opinions to the effect that wind farms cause property values to plummet. Apparently, Sarah Laurie of the Waubra Foundation has been looking for further material on this topic for the journalist.

The article interviews South Australian farmer Richard Paltridge, from near Allendale, who makes a number of assertions including:

“with a wind farm on the doorstep, the land value drops by up to 40 per cent”

“At a recent auction, he says, a dairy property with land worth about $3000 an acre received a bid of just $800. He blames Spanish Energy giant Acciona’s proposed wind farm as a major detractor”

On another tangent, “there is good evidence to suggest wind farms cause increased evaporation and drying of the land, which would lead to increased irrigation and more water use”

“The proposed wind farm would prohibit the town’s ability to expand, which would lead to a decline in housing values – if people are even able to sell at all”

The article also regurgitated claims from Elders Rural Services sales manager Shane McIntyre made in a private email to the Landscape Guardians, made public in February. One wonders what value these comments really have, given that the article also acknowledges “McIntyre later said the email was intended for the personal use of the recipient, was made public without his consent and did not represent Elders’ view on wind farms.”

We do have an unretracted comment from one person in real estate, on the public record, from the letters pages of the Goulburn Post.

Dear Editor,

I have been a real estate agent working in Tarago and East of Tarago for 4 years. Over this time we have seen projects progressing and applications in our area including:

1. The Veolia waste site at the old Woodlawn mine

2. The Capital wind farm project

3. The N92 road linking the South coast to Nerriga which impacts on road use through our area

4. Hi Quality’s application to expand building waste at Windellama

5. TriAusMin pending application to re-work tailings dams at Woodlawn mine site My experience is that local business has benefited from these companies working in our area with the influx of contractors and employment opportunities. The contractors have also impacted on demand for rental properties giving an opportunity for local residents to generate income. In general the major concern with all of these projects has been the impact on our local roads. While the Capital wind farm project has made extensive upgrades to the Taylors Creek road, the community continues to bring wider road issues to the attention of council and politicians. Real estate prices have seen an upward trend in our area due to our close proximity to Canberra. As the Capital continues to grow, those wanting a rural lifestyle are able to settle here and commute to work each day. I do not believe that either the Veolia or wind farm developments have greatly impacted on buyers decision to purchase in our area. Judy Alcock

(Goulburn Post, Tuesday July 12, 2011)

For our part at Friends of the Earth, we are unaware at this stage of any statistical studies showing wind farms leading to falling property values, as outlined in our submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms.