Cut wind farm gets go-ahead
JANINE RANKIN
Mighty River Power's eleventh-hour request for 12 extra turbines has been declined.
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The Turitea Wind Farm saga is over, ending seven years of wrangling, but the 60-turbine project may never be built.
A board of inquiry appointed by the Government issued its final decision yesterday, permitting the wind farm near Palmerston North, but rejecting Mighty River Power's eleventh-hour request for 12 extra turbines.
Mighty River Power has not decided if and when it will go ahead with a project half the size of what was initially envisaged. A spokesperson said it would take time to assess the implications of the ruling, and to reach a decision on the likely timing of the project, given current electricity demand growth.
"We are disappointed the request to reinstate 12 turbines from our original application has not been upheld, as these would have had a significant positive effect on the economics, efficiency and overall sustainability of the project," the spokesperson said.
The board of inquiry, chaired by Environment Court judge Shonagh Kenderdine, said the economic viability of the reduced project was an issue for MRP, not the board.
Its role was to deal with the environmental effects. Reducing the project's impact on the Tararua skyline viewed from central Palmerston North was a key reason for limiting the number of turbine sites.
MRP had argued that the board should consider the economics.
"We do not agree," the commissioners said in their final decision, although it acknowledged it was "not surprising" MRP wanted to maximise the size of the wind farm to capture as much of the wind resource as it could.
The board said it understood the alarm expressed by some submitters when MRP asked for hearings to be resumed to consider the reinstatement of a dozen more turbines than the draft report indicated would be granted consent.
The board ruled that the process should not become one of "endless negotiation". It declared the hearings were over, declined the reinstatement, and produced a final decision substantially the same as the draft.
MRP said although disappointed, it was pleased the "robust" process had reached a conclusion. The decision provided a future generation development "option", and meant a world-class wind resource would be available for development as market conditions changed.
Kahuterawa Rd resident and submitter Helen Harker said she was disappointed the project got the go-ahead but relieved that "at least they are not getting more reinstated".
She was "not too pleased" that MRP had been given 10 years to make a start, instead of five, as the extended period of uncertainty would be hard to live with.
Another opponent, Alison Mildon, said the 60 turbines were "60 too many".
She said residents had done the best they could to stop the project, and had at least ended up with something less than what MRP first proposed – 122 turbines when the hearing started, and 104 after a redesign.
Former Palmerston North mayoral candidate Michael Feyen said he was disappointed with the decision, but did not expect anything different.
"Manawatu [Tararuas] are simply a dumping ground for government-owned companies to obtain carbon credit dollars, and in the process wreck our own environment.
"As an area we have already done our bit for the supply of power to the national grid."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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What a missed opportunity for Palmerston North. The cost of maintaining and improving the city goes up so now will our rates. Thanks to those not in my backyarders. For those who say they are ugly, I say a sea of roofs and web of sealed roads is hardly natural. let alone unforested farmed mountains. I think the people of Palmy have taken ownership of the wind turbines and has become part of our identity. They are a spectacular sight. How many people have stretched their arms around the base of a tower for a photo? Hundreds? Thousands? For those who say it makes to place appear windy, well hello it is! Thats why its a prime site. This is one of the greenist forms of bulk power generation technology available to us at the moment. What else can we do? Dam the Manawatu?!? The only con against wind turbines that I could agree with is the noise factor for those nearby. But then you have to balance the number people affected vs the number of people it helped. People should not have built there. It was always a prime site for wind power generation. An opportunity missed to pandering politics.
Yes and if they were allowed to build 80, then they would have asked for 100 then you can be just like Scotland one big wind farm from Inverness to Wick, every landowner in the place has to get in on the act, and what you think you will get back in payout huh well just wait and see, very little. They will even import the workers I mean we have guys from Ireland building ours is that fair?. Don't let them walk all over you keep standing up for you rights.
Palmy is already a laughing stock. So what if it becomes "propellor city", it is the image PNCC has been promoting. People associate wind turbines with wind and it confirms their belief that Palmy is a windy place.
Lets look at the facts. A wind farm of 60 turbines has been approved. About 30 turbines are in the Turitea Reserve so PNCC receives the revenue. A handful of landowners receive the rest. That looks good from a ratepayers point of view. Play the ball not the man #1
i like the look of them! lets have them everywhere!!
Mighty River Power should now just walk away. More and more people are finding out about the contract MRP based this sorry saga on, a contract which forces PNCC to pay a three million dollar penalty to MRP if it offers any help to those living near the wind farm and who opposed it on the grounds of noise and loss of amenity.
I am sorry that MRP did not get all the windmills they applied for, this project would have generated a lot money and jobs for the city. So all you short sighted opponents who are wanting the council to cough up for sporting venues eg: Cycle track. don't come to the supporters for money. The windmills would have generated millions of dollors for parks and reserves and sporting venues. Thanks for the rate rise.
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The increase in PNCC rates is hardly attributable to a handful of ratepayers who fought long and hard to preserve as much as they could of their way of life. There were a great many existing dwellings in the area long long before industrial wind energy developments were mooted. The income PNCC gets from their turbines on PNCC land (the Reserve where the water catchment is) does NOT go into the general PNCC coffers to offset rates. It is earmarked only for improving Reserves, pest and weed control, paths etc. The term NIMBY (not in my backyard) is insulting to those people who are to be badly affected. Those private landowners who have lost out on turbine income with the reduction in numbers are showing their true abominable colours. Grow up and get your facts right.