February 1, 2011
New Zealand

Wind farms blocking point in plan

By NICHOLAS BOYACK, The Hutt News, 1 February 2011

Wind farms, and in particular a road to a potential wind farm site, is the major sticking point of a management plan covering regional parks. Regional councillors ticked off the Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan just before Christmas.

It sets an overall strategy for the management of regional parks and replaces individual management plans previously in place.

The plan has had a lengthy incubation, with much of the debate focusing on wind farms.

Included is a policy that requires Greater Wellington Regional Council to look at wind farms on a case-by-case basis.

A wind farm built within one of the parks would have to be built to a design standard outlined in the plan which says Wellington has been recognised as an area where wind is a resource and there are suitable sites within regional parks.

There is a specific clause barring wind farms from Belmont Regional Park

But the situation is less clear at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, over which there has been lengthy debate.

Councillors called for a further round of submissions on a proposed road within Battle Hill park that could be used to access a wind farm in the Akatarawa Forest.

The plan lists the road as a draft provision, subject to a further round of public consultation. A final decision will be made by independent commissioners in March.

See parks@gw.govt.nz

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/01/wind-farms-blocking-point-in-plan/