July 11, 2012
New Zealand

Wind farm, council talk

MATHEW GROCOTT | Manawatu Standard | www.stuff.co.nz 11 July 2012

The owner of the wind farm found in breach of its resource consent has made contact with Palmerston North City Council to find a solution.

The Environment Court last week released a judgment that the Te Rere Hau wind farm was too noisy.

City council chief executive Paddy Clifford said council staff had spoken to the the chief executive of owner NZ Windfarms.

Staff were still “evaluating the detail of the decision” and Mr Clifford could not yet say what the next step would be. But the council would work with the company to get a resolution.

“We’re keen to ensure the wind farm does operate within the intent of the consent that was issued. We’re mindful of the effect it’s had so far on residents and want to find a resolution.”

The council asked the Environment Court last year to find whether Te Rere Hau was breaching its consent. A hearing was held in December and the decision released last week found the wind farm was in breach.

Noise levels from the farm were louder than predicted in the original resource consent application. Because the predictions were not accurate, the farm was breaching its consent, the court said.

Residents near the farm have complained about noise levels since the wind farm’s first five turbines started operating in 2006.

Complaints increased when another 28 turbines started running in 2009, with the council averaging more than one complaint a day during one 12-month period.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/11/wind-farm-council-talk/