MEDIA RELEASE

DRAFT REPORT FINDS NO RELIABLE LINK BETWEEN WIND FARMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS
Monday 24 February 20 4 The release of the draft position statement on wind farms and health from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) today was an important step in reassuring communities living near wind farms that their health is not at risk, according to the Clean nergy Council! The draft statement and information paper from the NHMRC, "ustralia#s peak $ody for health and medical research and evidence%$ased health guidelines, followed on from a &'(' statement that also gave wind farms a clean $ill of health, provided appropriate planning rules were in place! Clean nergy Council )olicy *irector Russell Marsh said it was yet another tick of approval for the wind industry from the country#s $est health e+perts! ,The NHMRC draft position statement is in line with advice from the New -outh .ales and /ictorian health departments, which have $oth stated that noise $elow the hearing threshold cannot affect people#s health,0 Mr Marsh said! ,The draft position from the NHMRC, that there was no relia$le or consistent evidence that noise from wind tur$ines is associated with human health effects, should give peace of mind to those living near operating or proposed wind farms that their health will not $e adversely affected! ,1t is the role of health e+perts like the NHMRC to consider the scientific evidence on these issues and make recommendations, rather than the wind industry, or its opponents! ,That#s why we welcome the pu$lic consultation process and look forward to continuing to work with agencies like the NHMRC to inform our $est practice guidelines for wind farm development and community engagement, and ensure the industry can continue to operate in a responsi$le way!0 The independent systematic review from the NHMRC considered the e+isting scientific literature, and e+amined the possi$le impacts of wind farms on human health, including audi$le and inaudi$le noise! 2.hile there is mounting evidence that wind farms cannot directly cause health pro$lems, the industry recognises the need to make communication and community engagement a high priority when $uilding a wind farm,2 Mr Marsh said!
P!ea"e #on$a#$ C!ean Ener%y Coun#&! Co''un&#a$&on" O((&#er Laura S)e*(y on 04 0 2++ ,-, (or 'ore &n(or'a$&on or $o arran%e an &n$er.&e/0

CLEAN ENER12 CO3NCIL The Clean nergy Council is the peak $ody for "ustralia#s clean energy industry, working with more than 33' solar, wind, energy efficiency, energy storage, $ioenergy, hydro, cogeneration, geothermal and marine energy $usinesses, along with more than 43'' solar installers! .e are committed to accelerating the transformation of "ustralia#s energy system to one that is smarter, cleaner and more consumer%focused! More information at cleanenergycouncil!org!au!