A pro-forma objection to the guidelines, making up many of the submissions, says they are an "inadequate framework" for the council and need to be amended.

Those amendments should include: upholding any significant landscape overlay; not placing wind turbines within two kilometres of any residences; identification of any residence within a five kilometre radius; a noise assessment; public consultation and meetings; a section dedicated

to the decommissioning of wind turbines; and the establishment of Section 173 agreements to inform future land purchasers of the possibility of a wind farm being created.

Spa Guardians member David Sewell said he hoped the shire would take them into account when creating final guidelines.

Mr Sewell, whose group also met with shire chief executive officer Kaylene Conrick, said the shire was "suffering the consequences" of not having wind-farm guidelines in place.

The submissions, which were not all pro-forma, had been signed by shire residents, clubs and visitors to the region.

Smeaton resident and Spa Guardian member Bronwen Taylor said a 19-turbine wind-farm proposed near her home by Wind Power had left her "absolutely disgusted".

"Why aren't we going solar?" she said.

Cr Hayes said council officers would work through the 170 submissions and any others received before deciding whether amendments were necessary.

He also questioned whether any decisions about new or amended guidelines, should be held over until the new council is elected in November.