Puketoi Range turbines rejected

They were partying on the Puketois last night after a Contact Energy plan to build a $550 million wind farm on the ranges was rejected.

Consent for the planned 65-turbine wind farm on the Puketoi Range, about 10km north-west of Dannevirke, was turned down by a decision panel yesterday.

The 150-metre tall wind turbines would have loomed the largest in New Zealand.

During a nine-day hearing presided over by the Tararua District Council and Horizons Regional Council last month, 25 local landowners made submissions.

Farmers spoke of how their rural landscape and skyline would be ruined, their cultural heritage destroyed, and their livestock and indigenous species placed in danger.

Contact Energy argued the panel should consider national electricity supply challenges, the benefits of renewable energy, and local and national economic benefits.

But in their refusal of the consent, the commissioners said there were "plainly potential adverse effects of some significance, which are not fully understood."

These included the potential contamination of ground water sources in the construction of the wind farm, and the impact on the landscape of the large turbines.

It was also a concern that Contact had applied for a 10-year-lapsing period for the consent, which meant it could build any time in the next decade.

Though it was understood how the company might not want to begin construction in these tough economic times, 10 years is a long period of uncertainty, they said.

But they also noted their decision only related to the current proposal, and that another wind farm proposal for the same site could be viewed differently.

If Contact Energy wants to appeal the decision, the company has 15 days to take it to the Environment court.

Contact Energy spokesman Jonathon Hill said an appeal was likely.

"We will take some time to really review the details, but our view is some matters in the application can probably be addressed and it's likely we will appeal the decision."

Third-generation Waewaepa Station owner Shaun Currie, who signed a contract with Contact Energy to build the turbines on his land, could not be reached for comment.