Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines - July 2010

• The extent to which values are likely to be shared between the various communities or
cultural groups.
Any consultation should be coordinated through the Community and Stakeholder
Consultation specialist.
It should be noted that:
• Consultation opportunities should be readily accessible by the local community and
relevant stakeholder groups. They should also, where possible, be undertaken as part
of a broader community engagement program for the project.
• Various techniques can be used to establish community-held values about
landscapes; however, preference should be given to techniques that include direct
contact with community members.
• Care needs to be taken to identify the range of communities and community sectors
that may have particular associations with the landscape. It is not just the ‘local
community’ that may have associations with a landscape. Nor can it be assumed
that only people living within the viewshed of the wind farm will have an interest that
should be recognised and explored.
• It may be important to consult with relevant communities to determine the best ways
for them to be involved, considering their resources, priorities and cultural protocols.
Different methods may be needed for different stakeholders and communities. For
example, seeking input from non-resident land owners is likely to require a different
approach compared with consulting with local government representatives.
• Information also needs to be provided to communities about the place (including its
historical development, cultural heritage and natural values) as these will contribute
to the community-held values of the landscape.
C.4.1.5
Cumulative impacts analysis
A map should be prepared to illustrate the base cumulative impact of the wind farm
development (see Cumulative Impact Mapping Practice Note, Section C.7.9).
This map, together with the photomontages and 3D simulations developed in the C.4.1.3
Viewshed and views analysis, should be used to illustrate the cumulative impacts
resulting from the proposed wind farm development in conjunction with other
developments in the region. This analysis should recognise that cumulative impact is
fundamentally experienced as a traveller moving through the landscape affected, and is
therefore particularly important for tourist and scenic routes and where a one view spot
analysis is not adequate.
C.4.1.6
Develop objectives/ strategies to manage landscape character
Building on the outcomes of the Full Landscape and Visual Assessment, the proponent
should develop objectives and/or strategies to manage the valued landscape character
and features prior to the Visual Impact Assessment. Consider:
• What are the appropriate landscape and visual management objectives for each
landscape character unit; and how can they be achieved
• What are the appropriate strategies to address landscape and visual management
objectives for each character unit
Objectives and strategies should include (but are not limited to): best practice siting and
design (see Practice Note C.7.1), protection and maintenance of landscape character,
restoration of degraded character, or enhancement of opportunities, for example, for
viewing.
Page 84 Draft National Wind Farm Development Guidelines – 2 July 2010