SOUTH Australia's wind farm industry is cashing in on Victoria's strict planning guidelines.
More than $5 billion of capital investment in the wind industry was pumped into the South Australian economy last financial year creating 1824 direct and 222 ongoing jobs.
The Weekly Times last week revealed wind developers were investing elsewhere and that no new applications to build wind farms had been lodged since the Victorian Government introduced laws prohibiting developers from building turbines within 2km of a home without the written consent of the owner.
Shadow energy minister Lily D'Ambrosio said regional Victoria had been hit hard by the changes.
"Victoria has clearly lost out from billions of dollars of investment as a direct result of the Baillieu Government's anti-windfarm policy," Ms D'Ambrosio said.
A spokeswoman for Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the prohibition of wind turbines within 2km of a residential property ensured "that residents are protected from potential environmental and health impacts" and gave communities a say in major planning applications…