Wind farms too much trouble, says councillor

Palmerston North City Council will block any further wind farm construction in the area if the Turitea project does not go ahead, a city councillor says.

Michael Feyen was giving evidence before a government-appointed board of inquiry yesterday, opposing the wind farm Mighty River Power wants to build about 10 kilometres southeast of the city centre.

The council has a contractual agreement with the state-owned enterprise as landowner of the proposed site. But Mr Feyen said if the project was denied resource consent, the council would change its district plan to prevent any further wind farms being built.

"This partnership is costing the council about $1 million and from what I've gained from [council] workshops – the way it has turned out – it is no longer an equitable partnership," he said.

"I think it's pretty clear that if the city council had its time all over again, [the wind farm] would not be going ahead."

In giving evidence, Mr Feyen referred to himself as a Palmerston North citizen and city councillor, though he clarified he was not speaking on behalf of the council.

He "reminded" the board that the council had held discussions with Local Government New Zealand about establishing best practice guidelines for deciding wind farm locations.

Mr Feyen said he represented many people opposed to the wind farm and was upset Mighty River did not contact the council during its redesign.

"I believe that this should be taken into consideration and that no decisions should be made by this panel until these guidelines are in place."

The wind farm also had little to do with generating energy and more to do with the Government – through a state-owned enterprise – fulfilling its emissions targets, he said.

"I find it staggering that we're sitting here talking about how we could lose our environment to appease those who haven't looked after the environment and now need carbon credits."

Outside the meeting, Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor said nothing had come before the council to prohibit wind farm construction.

The council had only discussed the best practice guidelines, he said.

"We've always said that we will maintain a neutral stance and let the [Resource Management Act] be the arbitrator in all of this."

Mr Naylor confirmed the cost to the council was about $1 million.

Two other city councillors, Chris Teo-Sherrell and Bruce Wilson, submitted their personal opposition to the wind farm during the first round of the hearing last year.

Mighty River has reduced its original proposal from 122 wind turbines to 104, with 44 moved into "more recessive" locations and 22 turbine zones removed.

- © Fairfax NZ News