Farmers fear wind farm growth

Paerau-styx farmers are not just opposed to having a windfarm in their backyard, they are concerned Meridian still wants to make it bigger than it already is.Eric Laurenson told the Environment Court yesterday that when he was offered mitigation by Meridian to lessen the visibility, he suggested moving some of the turbines away from his home, but the company had other ideas."They said if they could get the land behind the windfarm site they would ... -- Complete story »

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~ New Zealand
28 May 2008 ~

Evidence recorded for documentaries

Parts of an appeal hearing against Meridian Energy's proposed Project Hayes wind farm on the Lammermoor Range are being filmed for possible inclusion in two documentaries.Environment Court judge Jon Jackson yesterday granted in-court media coverage to applicant Jay Cassells, of Queenstown company Huntaway Homestead Films.Mr Cassells is making a documentary with a working title Local Error, about Project Hayes and the course of Meridian Energy's application, including the appeal hearing being held in Cromwell.He ... -- Complete story »

Hearing adjourned

The Environment Court panel for Meridian Energy's proposed Project Hayes wind farm will adjourn an appeal hearing on Friday to drive over the Old Dunstan Rd.Judge Jon Jackson, commissioners Alex Sutherland and Heather McConachy and deputy commissioner Ken Fletcher will also try to view parts of the proposed Mahinerangi wind farm site while away from the court.During yesterday's hearing at Cromwell, Judge Jackson said it was the panel's last opportunity to visit Old Dunstan ... -- Complete story »

Wind farm images 'laughable', Project Hayes appeal hearing told

Meridian Energy's computer images of its proposed Project Hayes wind farm development are laughable, an appeal hearing was told yesterday.Appellant Eric Laurenson said the images, particularly those of the site after construction, did not show heavy scarring of the land which was likely to occur."In my experience of living in the {Paerau} valley and in that {Project Hayes} environment, once you start pushing heavy machinery around and start disturbing the ground, you leave great scars."The ... -- Complete story »

Turner and Sydney evidence on Project Hayes

Early this week — either Monday 26 May or Tuesday depending on the Court schedule presided over by Judge Jon Jackson — artist Grahame Sydney and poet Brian Turner will give evidence on Meridian Energy's Project Hayes. If given consent, the 176-turbine proposal will be the largest onshore wind farm in the world.Internationally respected in their fields, Sydney and Turner embody in their art and views iconic Otago values of twilight, space and thought. Sydney ... -- Complete story »

Turbines 'won't be dominant'

A large-scale energy installation such as Project Hayes would not be the dominant feature of the landscape, an expert witness for Meridian Energy told the Environment Court hearing in Cromwell yesterday.Peter Rough was cross-examined by the Maniototo Environmental Society's lawyers on day two of the six-week hearing but disagreed that the 160m-high wind turbines were the main feature."It's subjective analysis. To me if it was the dominant thing, it would be the prime view but ... -- Complete story »

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NZ Historic Places Trust pullout riles

Central Otago members of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust are angry the national body has pulled out of appealing against the proposed Project Hayes wind farm.The local branch wanted protection for Old Dunstan Rd, considered to be an historic place, which could be threatened if Meridian Energy's proposal goes ahead.Central Otago branch chairman Graye Shattky said the NZ Historic Places Trust had undertaken private negotiations with Meridian and had withdrawn from the Environment Court ... -- Complete story »

Most turbines on grass, court told

TrustPower will site more than 80% of the turbines for the Mahinerangi wind farm on exotic pasture land, and has called a rival power company's proposed condition ''nonsense''.At the Environment Court yesterday, the focus returned to the land after a week's hearing on transmission issues, with the appeal against the wind farm by the Upland Landscape Protection Society resuming.Ecologist Dr Ruth Bartlett said only four wind turbines would be planted on land covered with snow ... ... Complete story »

Wind will play significant part, court told

Wind power will play a significant part, possibly up to 1300MW, in the country's future energy needs, but the coal-fired Huntly power plant will still be in limited service by 2025, the Environment Court heard yesterday.Ministry of Economic Development energy and communications director Stuart Calman told the Environment Court, Government policy was to have 90% ... Complete story »