Taralga TV permanent solution
Goulburn Post, Goulburn NSW  by  None	04 Mar 2015
General News - page 2 - 324 words - ID 379588846 - Photo: No - Type: News Item - Size: 146.00cm2

MEMBER for Goulburn Pru Goward is now focussed on a permanent solution for Taralga residents who have suffered from badly disrupted television reception since late last year as a result of local wind turbine activity.

Ms Goward has welcomed Taralga Wind Farm's decision to now provide additional VAST (viewer accessible set top) boxes to residents with more than one television set as an interim measure.

"This is good news but it is only a temporary solution and residents need to keep pressure on the company," Ms Goward said.

"Taralga needs another transmission antenna, no ifs or buts." To date, 110 set top boxes have been installed at the rate of one per household, to ensure every family had at least some television reception.

Ms Goward has encouraged the company to ensure they stay in touch with all residents and understands Taralga Wind Farm has also emailed residents.

"The situation is still far from ideal since residents tell me they are receiving Northern Territory programming and advertisements - so the next step is to build a local retransmission antenna," she said.

"I have been advised this could take months to install as the company needs to get technical advice on precisely what to install and where to install it. It may need planning approval for the structure".

Ms Goward is urging residents to take any further reception complaints directly to the Taralga Wind Farm Company and continue to ask for a local retransmission antenna.

"I have reiterated to the company the importance of providing a proper solution that provides residents with local programming and I expect that the company will do so as it is part of their original conditions of consent imposed by the Land and Environment Court," she said.

"Local residents must also continue to demand an antenna.

"The conditions make the responsibilities of the company very clear." If residents remain dissatisfied they should contact the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's Compliance Manager (Ben Harrison on 02 9228 2045).