Wind farm siting standards sought

Waikato District Council wants the Government to introduce national standards for the siting of wind farms.

At its policy committee meeting this week, the council signed up to support a Palmerston North City Council remit to the Local Government New Zealand annual meeting which would call upon the Government to develop a "national policy statement" on where and how wind farms could be built.

At present there are no restrictions on the minimum distances turbines must be from residential properties, design or location of turbines, or the management of cumulative effects on the landscape.

Individual communities grapple with wind farm issues as they arise, with the process often controversial and divisive.

By contrast, a national policy statement would provide potential for resolving disputes about policy within a national framework.

A national policy statement is a tool under the Resource Management Act through which the Government can provide direction on specific national or regional issues.

While it wouldn't remove the need for case-by-case wind farm assessment, it would simplify the framework within which consent authorities make decisions by setting clear environmental thresholds and targets.

Environmental services manager Nath Pritchard urged councillors to throw their support behind the proposed remit."We need some form of guidelines for wind farms."

A Wel Networks-Meridian wind farm is already consented for Te Uku, while a board of inquiry is considering whether to approve the billion dollar Hauauru ma raki wind farm running between Te Akau and Port Waikato.

There are a number of other Waikato sites which have meteorological masts assessing wind conditions for other companies.

Meanwhile, Mr Pritchard expressed frustration at the growing cost to the council of being a party to the Tuakau board of inquiry. The council is attending as a submitter on the project. "We are doing a lot of work and not getting paid for it," Mr Pritchard said.