Moyne Shire Council spends $40k on noise tests that confirm what developer already told community

In a bid to put community concerns about noise to rest, Moyne Shire councillors narrowly agreed in December to fund an acoustician to do independent noise testing to verify tests from a Global Power Generation contractor.

The council's contractor, Renzo Tonin, found the noise results to be consistent with the testing previously done by acoustician Marshall Day, and the council will now make its noise testing publicly available.

Councillors who voted against doing the additional testing in December told Tuesday's meeting they were pleased the matter had been put to bed.

"It proves to me there is nothing to be gained by a wind farm company fudging the figures. I am satisfied we met our obligation to the community of Hawkesdale," Cr Damian Gleeson said.

But Cr Jim Doukas, who brought the original motion before the council to do the extra testing, was not satisfied with the work and continued to cast doubt on the findings.

He questioned why the noise loggers, which are equipment that measure the sound level, did not show sound levels low enough.

Officers took Cr Doukas' questions on notice but when he criticised them for not answering immediately chief executive Bill Millard said his demand was unreasonable.

"I'm happy to provide that level of detail but I don't think we warrant that level of criticism, officers shouldn't have to accept that in this current circumstance," Mr Millard said.

Cr Daniel Meade, who voted against doing the testing in December, said the original noise testing had also been peer reviewed.

"This is the third crack at it and it gives a similar result," he said.

Cr Karen Foster said she hoped the data provided the community with assurance.

"The job is done now, I think we need to move on," Cr Foster said.

Cr Gleeson said he was pleased the process had been seen through after he was on the losing side of a vote that saw the testing done.

"Sometimes when you ask a question to get an answer, the answer might not be the answer you want," he said.

Councillors in March rejected Cr Doukas' push to also do the noise testing at the Ryan Corner Wind Farm site.

Global Power Generation is planning to build a 26-turbine farm at Hawkesdale but is waiting for a Supreme Court decision after a community group challenged the validity of its planning permit.

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