Contact wind farm fight bound for court
Contact Energy’s fight to build a $550 million wind farm near Dannevirke is heading for an Environment Court showdown.
Consent for the 65-turbine wind farm on the Puketoi Range, about 10 kilometres northwest of Dannevirke, was declined this month after a nine-day hearing.
The wind turbines would be capable of generating power to 86,000 homes.
The 150-metre-tall turbines would have been the country’s largest.
Declining the consent, independent commissioners cited “potential adverse effects of some significance”, including potential groundwater contamination and impacts on the landscape.
Contact Energy said yesterday that it was likely to lodge an appeal within the 15 days allowed. Company spokesman Jonathan Hill said the site was too valuable to let it go without a fight.
“This is a world-class wind-farm site and Contact Energy wants to invest there. It is a significant investment and we have put together a strong case for the project.
“We feel that some of the key issues raised can be quite simply addressed and there are issues we think we can clarify around earthworks and the management of sediment. Visual impact concerns could also be clarified and resolved.”
Puketoi Valley farmer Stuart Brown, who led opposition to Contact’s project, said the fight would not end.
“Any appeal will be against the council’s decision to reject the resource consent application but we will be closely involved and we will keep battling on. If we have our way there will be no wind farms at our end of the ranges.”
The Puketoi Range is still being eyed by other power generation companies. In March last year, Mighty River Power signed agreements with 17 landowners to investigate the site’s potential for a 200-megawatt wind farm. The site which could see another 100 turbines is just 10km from Contact’s proposed wind farm.
By TANYA KATTERNS — The Dominion Post
15 April 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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