Waitahora Wind Farm Hearing Concluded

Dannevirke’s Waitahora wind farm hearing ended yesterday (Monday) after a five day adjournment leaving commissioners 15 working days to make their decision.

Contact Energy has lodged a joint application to Tararua District and Horizons Regional Councils to erect a 65 turbine wind farm in the Waitahora valley south east of Dannevirke.
At 150 meters the turbines are the largest to be erected in New Zealand.

About 25 submitters were heard over a nine day hearing by commissioners Vern Chettelburgh (Horizons), David Lea (Tararua) and independent technical commissioner and chairman Chris Mitchell.

With the exception of one, all submitters who spoke opposed the application.

Both parties called a number of expert witnesses in response to diverse issues including noise, the visual impact, hydrology, geology, and the reaction of thoroughbred horses to wind turbines.

Commissioners also visited Waewaepa Station the site of the proposed wind farm.

The application attracted 393 submissions - a number from around the world - with opinions on the wind farm equally divided.

About 100 people had originally opted to present their case but numbers eventually dwindled to 25.