Wind farm opponents may challenge court's consent

STOUSH: Opponents of Meridian's Central Wind project may continue their legal battle against it.

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OPPONENTS of a $400 million wind farm planned for the central North Island may appeal against an Environment Court decision allowing the project to go ahead.

The court approved Meridian Energy's 130-megawatt Central Wind project between Taihape and Waiouru.

Meridian will build 52 wind turbines across five private farms to generate enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.

Resource consent was granted in December 2008 by Horizons Regional Council and Rangitikei District Council, but a group of local landowners made an appeal to the Environment Court late last year.

Rangitikei Guardians spokeswoman Jill Duncan said the group was very disappointed the court had approved the resource consent this week.

"We only got the decision late on Tuesday so it's too early to say what we will do," Mrs Duncan said. "As a group we know we did our best to stop this going ahead, we will talk to our lawyer and see where we can go from here. If there is an appeal, it can only be on points of law."

The 62-member group had spent nearly $90,000 fighting the project.

"Taking on a SOE was always going to be tough for lay people because they [SOEs] have limitless resources."

The group has 20 working days to lodge an appeal.

Rangitikei Guardians opposed the project because of the visual effect the 135-metre-high turbines would have on a natural landscape.

"It's going to be built in close proximity to a world heritage area - Tongariro National Park - and will degrade views of Mt Ruapehu for landowners, and tourists travelling on State Highway 1.

"I can't understand why councils would approve this when they are also trying to encourage tourism along this road.

"Everyone is sympathetic to the idea of clean green energy but the downside is that you are sacrificing a valuable natural landscape."

Turbines will be visible from Taihape, 10 kilometres away, and Moawhango, the nearest settlement to the project.

Meridian Energy chief executive Tim Lusk said he was delighted the Environment Court had given the project the go- ahead in its entirety.

"Central Wind will make a significant contribution to security of electricity supply in the North Island, using a clean, renewable resource."

In its decision, the Environment Court did not consider the proposal would have significant adverse effects on outstanding and significant landscapes and was unlikely to diminish tourism or recreational opportunities in the area, he said.

New Zealand Wind Energy Association chief executive Fraser Clark said the court had found the right balance between the effects of electricity generation and projects co-existing beside a world heritage landscape.

"The project will give us a more reliable electricity supply without relying on water resource from hydro power in dry years."

- © Fairfax NZ News