Mighty River Power has redesigned its proposed Turitea wind farm, near Palmerston North, and is now seeking consent for a maximum of 105 turbine locations, at which a maximum of 104 turbines would be erected. In addition 44 turbines have been moved into 'more recessive' locations.
Mighty River Power originally applied for consent for up to 122 wind turbines, with a combined capacity of 360 megawatts. The redesigned wind farm now has a maximum installed capacity of up to 288MW. Details of the redesign were released in February 2010.
Mighty River Power's resource consent application for Turitea was publicly notified on 24 January 2009, and submissions closed on 23 February 2009. The project was called into a Board of Inquiry, which began its hearing on 6 July 2009. In October the Board decided to adjourn the hearing until March 2010.
The adjournment was to allow Mighty River Power time to revise the layout of the proposed wind farm in light of concerns raised at the hearing and by the Board of Inquiry. Concerns that have been raised include the effect of the wind farm on the landscape and the proximity of some turbines to private homes.
About the site
The site for Turitea is approximately 10 kilometres south-east of Palmerston North primarily along a 14 kilometre ridge in the northern Tararua Ranges.
The wind resource at the Tararua Ranges is exceptional, due to the high average wind speeds at elevated locations. Results of existing wind farms along the Tararua Ranges indicate that this area is in the top 5% of wind sites world-wide, and the wind resource is more consistent than the average location in continental Europe.
Mighty River Power expects the wind farm to generate power for more than 300 days per year. The wind farm's annual generation (1200 gigawatt hours) would be equivalent to the amount of electricity used by 150,000 average houses.
About 'call-in' and the Board of Inquiry
Turitea is the third wind farm ‘called in' under the RMA. The other two wind farms called in are Contact Energy's proposed Hauauru Ma Raki wind farm in the Waikato and Unison's Te Waka project in the Hawkes Bay.
The Resource Management Act gives the Minister for the Environment the ability to call in a resource consent application and refer it to either a Board of Inquiry or the Environment Court. While a called in application is not heard through the local authorities' normal consent process, you can still have your say by making a submission to the board.
The procedures used by a Board of Inquiry and the Environment Court are similar; a hearing is held, submitters have an opportunity to be heard and cross examination may be permitted. The decision reached by a Board of Inquiry or the Court can be appealed only on a point of law to the High Court.
The Minister for the Environment chose refer Turitea to a Board of Inquiry rather than the Environment Court because he considered the process for the board is more informal and better for submitters who may not have legal representation.
More information
- Project information on Mighty River Power's website
- Board of Inquiry information on the Ministry for the Environment's website, including evidence, reports and hearing transcripts.
- Minister for the Environment's announcement regarding the call in of Turitea
Location