'Turbine phobia' drives opponents

A Manawatu landowner has urged a board of inquiry to avoid "further watering down" the Turitea Wind Farm project.

At a hearing in Palmerston North yesterday, Brian Waters said wind farming was a clean, green development and Mighty River Power had compromised enough in its redesign, which resulted in the company proposing up to 104 turbines, instead of 121.

"It would be a major disappointment to Ngawai Farm if more sites were deleted," he said.

Mr Waters said the previous 121 turbines sought could easily be defended.

A world-class wind resource at the Tararua Range near Palmerston North could now be under-utilised. Mr Waters said he had known about the possibility of wind farm development for more than 30 years, implying other residents should not have been overly surprised by the Turitea proposal.

Maurice Alley said the redesign meant all turbines proposed for his property had now been cut.

"We're seriously compromising a really good scheme by removing these large numbers of turbines with a stroke of a pen."

Dr Alley said there was "turbine phobia".

A series of wind farm opponents also had their say yesterday. Robert Stewart said his home was "sandwiched in Turbine Alley" between the Te Rere Hau wind farm and proposed Turitea farm.

He was worried about noise.

At Makara, Wellington, actual noise effects from the wind farm were different from the effects modelled, he said.

Dr Stewart and another submitter, Lee Huffman, asked Mighty River Power to pay for them to relocate.

Kahuterawa Rd resident Janet Lang was concerned about possible effects on her health and loss of sleep.

"It feels like I'm fighting for the right to live in my own house in peace.

"Who can reassure me? I'm very worried and I don't deserve to be."

Tararua-Aokautere Guardians president Kevin Low said changes by Mighty River seemed designed to silence the noisiest objectors.

Embarking on a redesign six weeks into the hearing last year showed lack of respect to the community, he said.

Mr Low emphasised that the redesign changed little from the perspective of Palmerston North and the proposal remained "in your face".

He likened turbine noise to that of "leather boots in a tumble dryer".

Palmerston North city councillor Michael Feyen said Manawatu had already contributed its share of wind power generation to the national cause.

Mr Feyen said he was disappointed the power company didn't withdraw turbines from Turitea Reserve.

Friends of Turitea Society chairman Adrian Cookson showed the board photographs of New Zealand falcons at Turitea Reserve.

He was worried about birds having their flight paths disrupted by turbines.

Dr Alley, a wildlife ecologist, said there were no confirmed cases of bird strike by turbines at wind farms in New Zealand.

- © Fairfax NZ News