August 9, 2012
New Zealand

Four challenges to Castle Hill wind farm plan

Colin Williscroft | Wairarapa Times-Age | www.times-age.co.nz 9 August 2012

Four appeals have been received against the resource consent granted for the proposed Castle Hill wind farm.

They are from the Castle Hill Wind Farm Community Action Group, the Alfredton Educational Trust, neighbouring farmer Brent Weston, and Genesis Energy, which was awarded consent in June to build the $1.6 billion wind farm.

A progress report on the proposed wind farm was recently considered by the Masterton District Council’s resource management committee.

The report said the action group based its appeal on what it considered would be unacceptable adverse effects of the proposed wind farm. They included acoustic, visual, social and cultural effects.

The Alfredton Educational Trust had similar concerns, especially around the safety of the school and school bus routes.

Both the action group and the trust have asked for the consent to be declined in its entirety.

Mr Weston opposed a specific condition regarding the placement of the turbines, the report said. “His concerns relate to the safety of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters that use his airstrip for fertiliser application and weed control,” it said.

Genesis opposed 17 conditions that were a condition of the consent being granted. It originally applied to build 286 turbines of 135m high, or 242 turbines of 155m high. It was given consent to build 267 turbines up to 135m high, with more than 50 of the turbines required to be no taller than 115m high.

A decision date has yet to be set.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/09/four-challenges-to-castle-hill-wind-farm-plan/