Mixed opinions on wind farm heard 

Opponents of the planned Slopedown wind farm say they have been blatantly lied to, windpower was unreliable and inefficient and a silent majority supporting the wind farm does not exist.

But those who back the wind farm say the proposal is sound, will benefit the community, get rid of pests which were out of control, and help the country meet its electricity needs.

Contact Energy is proposing to build a 55-turbine wind farm in Southland, near Wyndham and is using Fast-track legislation.

The project has now reached the stage of invited comments from impacted parties and some are not holding back with their thoughts.

Farmer Hamish Robinson said in his submission he was initially supportive of the wind farm and was more concerned about how it stacked up economically.

But he now questioned the values of the power company and the “particularly disingenuous attempt on Contact Energy’s part to railroad this project through” by initially applying through the Covid-19 Fast-track process.

“This has come without any consideration whatsoever for the local people who will have to live, work and play in this district for generations to come, long after the executives and consultants that played a key role in constructing these obtrusive structures have left and returned to their homes nestled among the native bush overlooking Plimmerton Beach or in a downtown capital city apartment,” he said.

Mr Robinson said he could distinctly remember being told by Contact Energy head of wind and solar Matthew Cleland that this project would not be going ahead if the local community made it clear that it was not wanted.

“This statement made by him has since been found to be a blatant lie.

“That this comment was made publicly to me – among others in the room – was denied by Contact Energy. I was saddened to read this, particularly when I am able to verify that the iPhone that I had recording in my breast pocket would suggest otherwise.”

He said a young woman was in tears talking about the impact of the proposal at a community open day.

“Those representing Contact Energy and Roaring40s Wind Power deserve an Academy Award for the way in which they indicated that they would give the idea some “thought” as they seemingly appeared sincere in response.”

He said right from the very start, Contact Energy was reluctant to organise or participate in any public meeting and this attitude had not changed. It was a cop-out to say a public meeting would get out of control.

Contact Energy staff had suggested to him there was more support out there for the project than many thought.

“This idea is absurd, not only do the few people I know who may support the idea of this project be unafraid of speaking their mind – who are typically open about the fact that they have something to gain themselves from the project – but the only reason they could ever possibly be concerned about the level of backlash they might encounter is because of the sheer level of opposition towards it!”

The success of the project had only ever hinged on the idea of any consent application being made under stealth and urgency and Mr Robinson was convinced management at Contact Energy Ltd knew this.

The West Catlins Preservation Society had been the main group opposing the proposal. It said power needs for Southland were overstated with other generation projects being built.

Contact was a private company that was required to make a profit.

“Doing this project under the guise of national renewable energy goals is misleading,” the society said.

Wind power was ineffective, it said.

“We often find that wind generation is only ever operating at 20%-25% of potential,” it said.

So instead of powering 110,000-150,000 households as Contact says, it was actually powering 37,500, saying “increasing the number of wind turbines across the country does not increase efficient production, it simply spreads inefficiency further”.

Jedburgh Station owner Tim Story said he believed the wind farm would be good for the community. It would boost Wyndham and he had been impressed with the commitment by Contact Energy to environmental excellence. He said there was widespread support in the community for it.

For more than 20 years he had been told his property would be good for a wind farm.

His property was plagued with pests and now employed two fulltime hunters. Contact’s pest management programme would help reduce pests – far more than any farm could.

Eight government ministers have made comments supporting the proposal, saying it will boost renewable generation which is needed by the country.

South Island minister James Meager said the wind farm would be a game changer for Southland.