Experts clash over wind farm noise

Experts could be summonsed to the Turitea Wind Farm board of inquiry as acoustic consultants argue over whether a new noise standard will be effective in protecting nearby residents.

One expert, Philip Dickinson, has broken ranks with acoustic experts on the appropriateness of the new standard and has been scathing about potential negative health effects, including sleep disruption.

In a letter to Director General of Public Health, Mark Jacobs, Prof Dickinson said the methodology under-predicted the sound residents actually received from wind turbines.

Noise issues will be at the top of the agenda next week when a hearing continues into whether Mighty River Power should be allowed to build up to 104 turbines on the Tararua Range near Palmerston North.

Judge Shonagh Kenderdine revealed at the hearing yesterday that the board was considering summonsing witnesses because of split opinions on turbine noise.

"Clearly, there is a crossroads here," she said.

A summons would mean an expert was legally required to appear at the hearing scheduled to wrap up on Wednesday next week, but now looks set to run into the following week.

Prof Dickinson was Massey University's representative on a review committee that approved an update of the noise standard. Massey voted against the update.

"I fear the industry will have no controls on its noise emission, and local communities may suffer sleep disturbance and adverse health effects," Prof Dickinson wrote to Dr Jacobs.

The standard replaces the 1998 version. New Zealand Wind Energy Association chief executive Fraser Clark has said it would provide communities, councils and developers with up-to-date methods for the prediction, measurement and assessment of sound from wind farms.

"In addition, it recommends noise limits that ensure people will continue to enjoy their homes and other locations near wind farms."

In a new book, Sound, Noise, Flicker and the Human Perception of Wind Farm Activity, Prof Dickinson said standards were highly questionable.

"The problem is that standards cost money, and inevitably are funded by those organisations that are concerned only with what the standard can do to advance their business interests."

He commented that "those at the receiving end of the noise, or concerned about the health implications on local communities, will have little or no influence".

 Farmer wants turbines back, page 4

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