What it looks like should not be a reason to not support off shore wind. We very quickly get used to things looking differently to how they do now and i think its a weak argument
How is an aesthetic consideration even relevant. An offshore wind farm in this area will look like any other offshore wind farm anywhere in the world. What is more important is where the farm is sited in relation to the community's view of the value of the selected location. Whatever that value/values may be.
Visual impacts matter and shouldn’t be ignored - many wind farms are stopped due to aesthetic concerns alone. What if we responded creatively? South Gippsland has some of Victoria’s best artists. Could turbines feature painted designs or monthly lighting installations that share local and Gunaikurnai stories? Painted turbines also have been proven to reduce bird collisions. These are just ideas, but the concern is real and deserves thoughtful, imaginative solutions.
Visual impact is important; visual aesthetics are closely associated to good mental health. We have an opportunity to locate Gippsland wind-farms sufficiently far from the coast to obliterate any visual impacts, perhaps 35kms. Many European and Scandinavian countries lack extensive EEZs and have no option but to locate wind farms close to their coasts. Gippsland communities should not subsidise international wind farms that aim to maximise their profits and by locating close to our coastlines.
They need to be unintrusive to the eye, otherwise it will be an eye sore and the view will not have the benefits/visual stimuli to calm the mind. A benefit that helps people with their relaxation and mental health.
I agree. We should take aesthetics in to account to some extent but it should not become the main reason not to consider off shore wind options.
Agree - but if it's sustainable/easy for them to look OK, do it. It will be interesting to examine why people generally react poorly to change. Is it a power thing? (Pun intended).
Agree - and aesthetically they will be better than power stations, coal mines and oil/gas platforms.
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