Waitahora Wind Farm Declined

Commissioners have declined an application by Contact Energy to build a wind farm on the Puketoi Range south east of Dannevirke.

The decision concluded that the proposal “did not achieve the statutory purpose of sustainable management of natural and physical resources.”

The application, lodged jointly with Tararua District Council and Horizons Regional Council was heard by independent commissioner and chair Chris Mitchell, Vern Chettleburgh and David Lea.

The proposal attracted up to 400 submissions with opinions expressing support and opposition being evenly divided.

The proposal was to provide for up to 59 turbines up to 150m high or 65 turbines at 121m high, two 85m wind masts, 36 km of internal roads, a concrete batching plant, substation and a switching station.

The proposal also included 1,300,000m3 of earthworks and a reservoir for water supply.

The locality, the Waitahora valley is an established multi generation farming and lifestyle area, set in an ‘outstanding’ landscape on limestone rock countryside with an elaborate underground system of caves, ‘tomos’ and water courses.

In reaching their decision Commissioners considered the effects on outstanding landscape, amenities of the Waitahora area, individual amenities, local economic costs and national benefits of providing further sources of renewable energy.

One of the reasons for declining the application was that the wind farm would “significantly detract from the landscape because of its size and elevation.”

Cultural concerns expressed by the Rangitane iwi in relation to local landmarks were also considered.

In assessing the visual impact of turbines at 150 meters high, Commissioners were unable to judge the scale of the proposal as none exist in the country. They therefore concluded they would “significantly detract from the landscape values of the Puketoi Range.”

Commissioners also gave weight to the impact on individual farming operations including the adverse effects of increased traffic on stock movements, the impact on a thoroughbred horse breeding operation and “special character and beauty” of the locality.

In summing up however commissioners noted that “nothing in our decision should be regarded as suggesting that we regard a wind farm as being unsuitable, in principle, on this part of the Puketoi Range.”

In other comments the judgement considered that the proposal ‘does make a significant contribution to renewable electricity generation” and that a “reconfigured proposal… may have a lesser impact.”