City leads wind farm national rules push

BY KATIE CHAPMAN

Palmerston North is spearheading a push to create national guidelines for wind farms.

The city council has gathered the support of nine councils around the country, and will next month ask Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to put the issue on its agenda.

If successful, LGNZ would lobby the Government for a national policy statement.

City council chief executive Paddy Clifford said the Palmerston North experience with wind farms put it in the best position to lead a lobby for a policy.

"We have got the most experience of any council area in the country in dealing with this issue."

Renewable energy was set to become an ongoing issue, and it was vital the Government put a stop to the current ad hoc process, which dealt with applications on a case-by-case basis.

Guidelines could also help reduce the costs associated with hearings.

But, any guidelines could be too late for Palmerston North, because most wind farms were already consented, or in the process, he said.

"It may well be not something that will have applicability to Palmerston North in the future."

Mayor Jono Naylor agreed, but said it was still important for Palmerston North to take a leadership role.

"We believe it is a national issue and needs to be addressed."

Both were encouraged by the amount of support the proposal had received.

Any remit before LGNZ must have support from at least five other councils, but this proposal quickly got nine in support.

Mr Naylor said the councils had identified with the issue.

"They've recognised that this is something that is likely to affect communities right throughout the country."

It was important to have the support of LGNZ when lobbying the Government, he said.

"A united voice from local government across New Zealand will have more impact than simply Palmerston North standing up and saying this on our own."

In particular, the council wants to see guidelines stating the minimum distance turbines can be placed from homes, the allowable maximum saturation of an area's skyline, and iconic areas on which turbines cannot be built.

IN SUPPORT

Councils supporting Palmerston North City Council's push for a national policy statement on wind farms:

-Rangitikei District Council.

-Franklin District Council.

-Whakatane District Council.

-Central Hawke's Bay District Council.

-Grey District Council.

-Kaipara District Council.

-Gore District Council.

-Chatham Islands Council.

-Porirua City Council.

- © Fairfax NZ News