Wind farm ruling concerns Federated Farmers

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Federated Farmers wants to join Meridian Energy in High Court action over the proposed $2 billion Project Hayes wind farm.

Farmers fear last year's Environment Court rejection of the 176- turbine proposal for Central Otago could block future farmland development.

State power company Meridian has already appealed that ruling, with the appeal to be heard in the High Court in Dunedin in June.

Papers filed in the High Court said Federated Farmers was concerned about the implications of the Environment Court decision.

It was worried about the impact on "possible future major irrigation projects" and "farming activities which require a resource consent", the papers said.

The Environment Court ruled that Meridian had not undertaken an adequate cost-benefit assessment of building the wind farm elsewhere.

Federated Farmers was worried this decision could be applied to farmers who may want to simply build a farm track or erect fences.

Federated Farmers South Island policy team leader Matt Harcombe said the organisation was "representing the interests of the little guy".

"Imagine for a single farmer the cost you add to a fairly simple activity – the cost of consent might be more than the activity itself."

The decision relates to section six of the Resource Management Act, covering outstanding landscapes, the clearing of significant indigenous vegetation and significant waterways.

"It's the biggest, most contentious issue that farmers have to face – that's part of the reason why we're involved," Harcombe said

Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson told The Press he encouraged the organisation to go in to bat for Central Otago farmers who wanted turbines on their land to "maintain authority over property".

"We have people in that area and an opportunity has been taken from them, potentially, by the decision that's been handed down – initially, that's why it needs to be appealed," he said.

Nicolson was worried successive governments were not "standing up" to protect private-property rights.

"If these [wind-turbine] towers can't go ahead, then the opportunity lost has to be well and truly compensated by the public."

Federated Farmers's High Court affidavit said the organisation wanted the interests of those relying on traditional, land-based agriculture "adequately provided for and protected".

"Federated Farmers is also concerned to clarify whether or not the Environment Court decision has any implications for farming activities in existing landscape areas that are not identified as being outstanding landscapes in statutory planning instruments such as district plans," it said.

Meridian spokesman Alan Seay said groups such as the New Zealand Contractors' Federation and the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development had also expressed concern at the Environment Court ruling.

Parties to the appeal have until Friday to object to Federated Farmers' move.

- © Fairfax NZ News