Two wind farm projects mothballed

The wind power industry faced two disappointments last week as bids to gain approval for wind farms were turned down.

New Zealand Wind Energy Association chief executive Fraser Clark said it was a blow to see the two projects declined, The Dominion Post reported.

In the past three or four years most wind farm resource consents had been approved at council level, he said.

Contact Energy had an application to build a $500 million plan on the Puketoi Range near Dannevirke turned down by commissioners appointed by Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council and Tararua District Council.

The development could have included as many as 59 turbines up to 150m high.

In the South Island, commissioners appointed by Hurunui District Council turned down an application by MainPower for a $200m development at Mt Cass in North Canterbury.

The commissioners identified the Mt Cass limestone ridgeline as an outstanding natural feature of national importance which had significant limestone rock formations, native vegetation and habitats for native fauna.

The proposed wind farm footprint would cut a swathe through that area, Hurunui council said reporting the decision.

The commissioners felt that although MainPower had proposed several measures to offset the negative effects, the protection provided would still be insufficient and the resulting impact would be unacceptable.

- NZPA