'Turbinisation' of range rejected

Rural character will remain: expert

Plans for 276 large wind turbines in Central Otago would not "turbinise" the Lammermoor Range in Central Otago, a Meridian expert said.

Landscape expert Peter Rough said while the landscape would be changed by wind turbines, its rural character would remain.

"It's still fundamentally a rural landscape with an element of energy product," he said in the Environment Court in Queenstown yesterday.

Mr Rough's evidence that the cumulative effect of the 167 Project Hayes wind turbines and the 100 Mahinerangi wind turbines 25km away would be "slight" was heavily scrutinised by opponents.

Maniototo Environmental Society lawyer Mike Holm asked whether Mr Rough's insistence that that area wouldn't become an energy production landscape "defied common sense".

"Putting turbines there turbinises it, doesn't it?" he said.

The cumulative effects of the recently approved Mahinerangi wind farm combined with Project Hayes is the key point of contention in the hearing, which resumed on Monday after a five-month break.

Maps presented with Mr Rough evidence show scattered swathes of Central Otago where at least 25 per cent of both wind farms would be visible, including areas as far afield as the coastal hills just south of Mosgiel.

Otago District Council lawyer Graeme Todd asked whether Mr Rough's familiarity with wind turbines had swayed his opinion on thier visual impact.

"I'm not immune to the effects of them because I have worked with them," Mr Rough responded.

"People's appreciation is totally different. Some people will find them terrible, some won't mind at all."

Upland Landscape Protection Society legal representative Ewan Carr quizzed Mr Rough on a Project Hayes promotional video, in which he appeared supporting Meridian about two years ago.

"You are appearing as an independent expert witness (today) ... are you aware this was a promotional video?" he said.

Mr Rough responded that he was not and his appearance was not related to promotion.

The hearing will continue on Monday.

- © Fairfax NZ News