November 3, 2006
New Zealand
New Zealand
Representatives from the proposed Motorimu Wind Farm will have a stand in The Plaza in Palmerston North at the weekend to answer questions about the project.
Technical director Bernhard Voll said he has held a public meeting in Tokomaru and had one-on-one discussions with most of the residents in Scotts Road, Millricks Line and Williams Road.
“And now we have a public display in The Plaza to explain to people what we are doing and give people first-hand information.”
The proposed wind farm, at the back of Scotts Road, will have 129 turbines that will consist of a 55-metre tubular tower and three blades of up to 25 metres in length.
The wind farm is owned by Australian Company Energreen Wind, which has recently been acquired by Allco Wind Energy New Zealand, which is part of the Australian Allco Finance Group.
At a reception in Palmerston North last night Allco Finance Group announced its entry into the New Zealand renewable energy market through its acquisition rights to develop a number of Energreen Wind projects.
Allco also announced it is making Palmerston North the centre of its wind energy operations in New Zealand, with the opening of its New Zealand office at Massey University.
Mr Voll said Allco is the first wind- farm developer and operator to have its headquarters in New Zealand’s wind hub. “Allco also sees significant benefits in establishing close links with the university’s centre for renewable energy to enable close collaboration with the scientific staff as well as provide opportunities for students,” Mr Voll said.
The resource consent for the wind farm has been publicly notified and submissions close on November 24, Mr Voll said.
He is unsure whether the resource consent hearing will be before Christmas or early next year, but all going to plan, construction on the wind farm will begin in June next year.
Once submissions are in he will “diligently” go through them all, he said.
One issue that has been raised since the wind farm was announced is the spelling of Motorimu. Should it be spelt with an o or a u?
In the early 1900s there was a village at the top of Scotts Road called Moturimu and postcards sent from the village in 1909 have the postmark Moturimu.
Mr Voll said he got the spelling from a map, but said he would welcome suggestions about the name from local iwi.
By Helen Harvey
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/11/03/developers-to-inform-residents-on-motorimu-wind-farm/