Property owners in Sunny Corner, Dark Corner, Yetholme, Meadow Flat and neighbours on rural properties with dwellings within 2.5 kilometres of a proposed turbine may be eligible for annual payments.
The new Accelerated Payment option is designed to deliver more immediate financial returns over a shorter period and has been calculated to ensure all Near Neighbour Program participants end up with the same total value in the long run. The original offer, the Core Payment Program, is still on offer and distributes payments annually over the 32 year project term.
Under the Core Payment Program a caveat is not called for within the neighbour deed. If you choose the Accelerated Payment Program option (15 years), a caveat may be placed on the property title (if the project is approved and constructed). This is to ensure that acceptance of Accepted Impacts under the Deed continues for the full 32 year life of the project, even if the property is sold to a new owner (particularly if the property is sold after the 15 year payment period has ended). Importantly, a caveat does not restrict you from selling or managing your property in any way, it simply provides transparency and continuity for everyone involved – including any future owner of the property. The cost would be borne by the project, not the landowner.
Paid within 21 days of the Deed being signed by both parties.
Paid from the date that is four months after the start of construction of the Wind Farm.
The Annual Payments are calculated based on the wind turbine layout at the start of construction, and payable no later than four months after construction of the wind farm begins, payable each year for the operational life of the project (expected to be 32 years) or every year for 15 years if you have selected this option.
The Annual Base Payment is calculated by considering the distance between the Landholder’s Main Dwelling and the closest turbine in the Scoping Report Layout or the Final Layout, whichever results in the greater payment.
If the closest wind turbine in the final layout is less than 1,500m from the main dwelling.
If the closest wind turbine in the final layout is between 1,500m and 2,000m from the main dwelling.
If the closest wind turbine in the final layout is between 2,000m and 2,500m from the main dwelling.
The Annual Visual Payment is based on the visibility of the turbines from the Landholder’s Main Dwelling.
The payment is determined by multiplying the number of ‘visible cells’ by $250 + GST. A multiplier of 1.6 is used for the 15 year payment option.
Temporary construction related impacts including:
Out of hours work as permitted under approvals; No physical damage.
Visual Impacts.
Shadow Flicker up to 80 hours per year at the Main Dwelling.
Operational noise up to 45 dB(A) or 5dB(A) above background.
(What a Wind Farm can build without neighbour consent)
Construction of projects on nearby land is allowed to happen. We’ll need to comply with Conditions of Consent.
Assess visual impact under Wind Energy Guideline.
Shadow Flicker up to 30 hours per year at dwellings.
35 dB(A) or 5 dB(A) above background.
*A neighbour who enters the Deed is accepting ONLY the Accepted Impacts. Any other potential ‘impact’ must be managed by the Wind Farm in accordance with the Conditions of Consent issued by the NSW Government.
In order to participate in the Program, Moir Studio will need to visit each neighbour’s property to take a 360-degree panorama, and determine the viewpoint.
Visual Magnitude is then assessed by analysing how much of a viewer’s field of vision the wind farm occupies. As per the NSW Wind Energy Guidelines Methodology, a grid of cells 1-degree tall by 10-degrees wide is overlaid – and the resulting occupied cells are counted.
Example below: Joe Citizen lives 1.7km from the nearest turbine and has 13 visible cells.
Joe Citizen lives 1.7km from the closest turbine on the Scoping Report layout, and from his primary viewpoint he can see potentially 13 cells (as per the Wind Energy Guideline).
Joe is eligible for the Annual Base Payment and the Annual Visual Payment**.
* Both the Annual Base Payments and the Annual Visual Payments start at construction and the operational life of the
project may equal 32 years.
** Annual Visual payment is determined upon final layout which will be determined prior to construction commencement, subject to wind farm approval.
Joe Citizen lives 1.7km from the closest turbine on the Scoping Report layout, and from his main dwelling viewpoint he can see potentially 13 cells (as per the Wind Energy Guideline).
Joe is eligible for the Annual Base Payment and the Annual Visual Payment**.
* Both the Annual Base Payments and the Annual Visual Payments start at construction and the operational life of the project over 15 years with a multiplier of 1.6.
** Annual Visual payment is determined upon final layout which will be determined prior to construction commencement, subject to wind farm approval.
Once we receive your expression of interest via the SCWF registration page or by email, we will contact you to confirm your eligibility.
Once your eligibility is determined, we will provide you with a template Agreement; and an independent legal review of the Neighbour Benefits Sharing Deed and a Frequently Asked Questions document.
We will arrange to meet with you and discuss your Neighbour Agreement (tailored to your dwelling with estimated payment amounts). If Moir have not yet been to your property we will arrange for them to visit to take the 360-degree panorama used in the Annual Visual Payment.
We will provide a signature-ready version of the Neighbour Benefit Sharing Deed and organise signatures.
Upon signing we will pay the initial payment within 21 days of both parties signing. Once annual payments begin, we will pay you, with annual CPI adjustments, each year the wind farm is operational, (~32 years) or for 15 years under the Accelerated Payment option.
