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Trustpower's plans for a 100-turbine wind farm on the foothills of the Lammerlaw Range, overlooking Lake Mahinerangi, 40km west of Dunedin, has been given the green light by a hearing committee.
However, opponents of the $500 million scheme have already begun preparing an appeal which will take the proposal to the Environment Court, the Otago Daily Times reported today.
A joint hearing committee of the Clutha District Council and Otago Regional Council has granted resource consent to TrustPower, with 178 conditions.
The decision will allow Trustpower to erect more than 100 145m-high turbines capable of generating 200MW of power - enough to supply about 100,000 homes.
Opposition to the scheme has focused on adverse landscape and visual effects.
- NZPA
