DA AMENDMENT REPORT NOVEMBER 2016

Appendix V

Shadow Flicker and Blade Glint Assessment

DA AMENDMENT REPORT NOVEMBER 2016

Appendix VI

Review of Landscape and Visual Assessment

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FLAT ROCKS WIND FARM

REVIEW OF LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT BASED ON REVISED ZONE OF VISUAL INFLUENCE MAPPING

Monday, 14 November 2016 WILLIAM JAMES LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS

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Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 3

2. REVIEW PROCESS ............................................................................................................................ 3

3. ZONE OF VISUAL INFLUENCE .......................................................................................................... 5

4. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 12

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1. INTRODUCTION

This document is a Review of a Landscape and Visual Assessment, prepared by the author in 2011, of a proposed wind farm at Kojonup in Western Australia. The proposed wind farm is on private farm land approximately 20km south east of Kojonup, 27km north west of Tambellup, 16 km west of Broomehill and 27km south west of Katanning in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The development is spread over six farming properties. The total area of the development envelope is 6,480ha of which approximately 20ha will be directly affected. This document should be read in conjunction with the 2011 Review of a Landscape and Visual Assessment. The proponent of the wind farm, a local consortium, Moonies Hill Energy Pty Ltd., has asked the author to review the original Assessment to determine the change in visual impact resulting from a revised layout of wind turbines. The revised layout has come about due to the proposed substitution of the original turbines with fewer, but larger, turbines. The original turbine towers were 84m high with 112m diameter blades, giving an overall height of 140m. There were 74 of these turbines. The proposed replacement turbine towers are 117m high with a blade length of 61.66m giving an overall height of 180m. There are now 41 proposed turbines. The original and revised turbine layouts are shown in Figures 1. This review is based on a comparison of the Zone of Visual Influence mapping of the original and the revised turbine layout.

2. REVIEW PROCESS

The Zone of Visual Influence1 of the new layout was compared with the original layout. In particular, the number of turbines potentially seen from non-stakeholder houses, in the original and new layout, was assessed. If fewer turbines were potentially seen then the impact was deemed to be less. Conversely, if equal2 or more turbines were potentially seen the impact was deemed to be greater.

1 Zone of Visual Influence mapping in based on landform only and does not allow for vegetation

2 An equal number of larger turbines would have a greater impact.

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Figure 1: Turbine Layouts - Original and Revised

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3. ZONE OF VISUAL INFLUENCE

The Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) maps of the original and new layouts are represented in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. The ZVI maps were supplied by Garrad Hassan Pacific Pty Ltd (GL Garrad Hassan) the same party who provided the original maps. The ZVI maps are based on landform only and do not allow for vegetation. The ZVI analysis does not determine which hubs may be seen, just how many. Two maps were provided, one showing the ZVI of the turbine hubs and the other showing the ZVI of the blade tips. A spreadsheet summarising the comparison of the number of turbines shown from non-stakeholder houses is given below in Table 1.

HUBS

BLADE TIPS

NSH No. ORIGINAL REVISED ORIGINAL REVISED

1 11-20 1-5 21-30 11-15

2 31-40 26-30 41-50 31-35

3 51-60 36+ 71-74 36+

4 41-50 36+ 51-60 36+

5 41-50 36+ 71-74 36+

6 41-50 36+ 71-74 36+

7 41-50 36+ 71-74 36+

8 51-60 6-10 31-40 16-20

8A 51-60 21-25 41-50 26-30

9 51-60 36+ 71-74 36+

10 51-60 36+ 61-70 36+

11 41-50 31-35 51-60 36+

11a 41-50 36+ 71-74 36+

12 41-50 26-30 61-70 36+

13 31-40 16-20 41-50 26-30

14 6-15 11-15 21-30 11-15

15 11-15 6-10 21-30 16-20

16 11-15 6-10 21-30 16-20

17 18 31-40 31-35 41-50 36+

19 51-60 31-35 41-50 31-35

20 11-15 11-15 31-40 26-30

21 31-40 31-35 51-60 36+

22 51-60 36+ 71-74 36+

More seen in revised layout Same numbers seen in both layouts

More seen in original layout NSH No. Non Stakeholder house number on ZVI map

Notes: There are a total of 41 turbines. “36+” indicates that all turbines may potentially be seen. There is no NHS N0. 17

Table 1. Comparison of Zone of Visual Influence Mapping for original and revised turbine layouts.

DA AMENDMENT REPORT NOVEMBER 2016

Appendix VII

Zone of Visual Influence Maps

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All non-stakeholder houses will be less visually affected by the turbine tips in the new layout, while all but three would be less visually affected by the turbine hubs in new layout. One non–stakeholder house would possibly see more hubs in the new layout3, while two would see an equal number of hubs but fewer tips. The one house that may see more hubs is uninhabited and the other two that may see an equal number are owner occupied. The two houses that may see the same number of hubs will see these hubs as taller objects than in the original layout. Given that there will be fewer tips visible it is likely that the total impact on these two houses will be the same for the original and the revised layouts.

Figure 2: Zone of Visual Influence of Hubs overall - new layout

3 Depending on intervening vegetation.

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Figure 3: Zone of Visual Influence of hubs detail - new layout

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Figure4: Zone of Visual Influence of tips overall - new layout

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Figure5: Zone of Visual Influence of tips detail - new layout

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Figure6: Zone of Visual Influence of hubs overall - original layout