Meridian's winds of change unpopular

PROTEST is mounting against Meridian Energy's push for a big wind farm near Martinborough.

Residents, fired up since Meridian made public its plan for a 50-turbine farm near a ridge known as Nga Waka O Kupe, have called a public meeting next week. Vineyard owners and local iwi are among those opposed.

Meridian claims the wind farm could power up to 40,000 homes on hill country close to Kupe's Canoe - a listed heritage site under the local district plan.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples shared the community's concerns, although with no resource consent application lodged, the council was yet to debate the issue. "My personal opinion is that the area they are looking at will have a huge effect on the amenities of Martinborough and the town is a tourist town and I question the location."

With opposition growing and calls for a united front to shut down the plan, Meridian is now urging opponents against "knee- jerk reactions".

Spokesman Alan Seay said local people's views were important but the community also had to consider the positives of a large scale project. "Maybe there is a lot we can do to address those concerns rather than just pack up and walk away now."

Meridian has not been invited to next week's town meeting and it was unclear whether the company's chief executive, Tim Lusk, who lives in Martinborough, would attend as a resident.

Nga Waka vineyard owner and winemaker Roger Parkinson said Martinborough residents would have an open mind, but it was not looking good so far. "They couldn't have picked a worse site. Further back in the range, and opposition would have been nil."