Public can ask questions

People who want to go can meet at the old railway station in Glen Innes to be ferried there by bus every 15 or 20 minutes through the morning, with the first bus leaving at 8.15.

The company says people can “leave the bus and stand under a turbine, take photos and ask questions”. There will be a company guide on the bus and on site.

Wind farms in the area have been in the news recently. An ABC report hailed a bright economic future with the headline: “Small town of Glen Innes to become renewable energy hub scattered with wind turbines.”

It quoted cattle producer Tim Moses (who will have 14 Sapphire Wind Farm turbines on his land) saying: “These turbines aren't taking up much land at all."

Landowners have to sign a secrecy agreement about how much they are paid.

But for Mr Moses, it’s a significant sum which had allowed his wife to give up her job: “The royalties help educate my children, help improve the property. It'll give me the flexibility to keep my cattle going through hard times, through droughts."

On the other side of Gwydir Highway, White Rock was recently cleared of breaching safety law after a vehicle rolled down a slope, injuring three workers.