Election to find West Wind Liaison pair

An election will be held for the two community seats on the Project West Wind Community Liaison Group after three Makara residents expressed interest in the positions.


Dave Bennett, Deb Compton and Ted Smith have all put their hands up for the two seats on the five-member group – which is to be formed as one of the conditions of the resource consent granted for the wind farm by the Environment Court.

Residents in the Makara, Makara Beach, South Makara and Takarau Gorge area should receive voting papers in the mail by this weekend. The voting papers have to be mailed back to Wellington City Electoral Officer Ross Bly by 5.00pm on 19 September. The election results will be announced on 20 September.

The Environment Court required that the Community Liaison Group be formed and hold its first meeting within three months of the start of construction on the Meridian Energy wind farm.

The Makara-Ohariu Community Board, Wellington City Council and Meridian will each also have a representative on the group.

The group's responsibilities:

Review Meridian's performance in terms of noise control, the impact of construction traffic and parking management.
Make recommendations to, and receive feedback from, Meridian in respect of any of the above matters.
Produce an annual report for presentation to Wellington City Council's Strategy and Policy Committee.
Review implementation of the Project West Wind noise management plan.
Work with Meridian to facilitate the establishment of a suitable mechanism for the wellbeing and enhancement of the communities adjoining the site – including Makara, South Makara, Makara Beach and Takarau Gorge.
Residents of the Makara, South Makara, Makara Beach and Takarau Gorge area who are registered on the Electoral Roll are eligible to vote. People enrolled on the Unpublished Electoral Roll (in the Makara area) will have to apply to Ross Bly for a special vote.