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Puketiro Wind Farm
'Puketiro' is the current working name for a windfarm RES New Zealand Ltd (RES) is seeking to build on rural land a few kilometres north of Pauatahanui. We are informing the community about our progress via a series of newsletters and we hope you will also find the information on this website helpful and interesting. It outlines the opportunities for you to find out more about the proposal and let us know about issues to be considered as we develop it. The first Open Day took place on July 28th at the Anchor Church in Whitby and further information from that day is provided here. We encourage you to take the time to read this and learn more about the project.
Background
Following a study and public consultation process in 2005, the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) decided to use its own Puketiro Forest to establish a windfarm. After a tender process, RES was appointed to develop it.
Puketiro will help the Wellington region raise its energy self-sufficiency and increase the amount of electricity available from fully renewable sources, while having a comparatively low environmental impact.
RES is beginning studies to establish firm details about the windfarm project.
When the results are ready, we will form our proposal and consult on it towards the end of the year. Following your feedback and further refinement, RES will prepare resource consent applications which we hope to lodge early next year.
Why was Puketiro chosen?
After detailed study by GWRC, Puketiro was chosen to support its policy of helping Wellington to become more energy self sufficient and less reliant on non-renewable sources. Public consultation showed that of the 1300 submissions received, over 90% were in favour of making the land available for a windfarm. RES’ studies so far indicate that the site has a favourable wind resource; is near to a suitable transmission network, and has reasonable separation from residential areas. We believe that by being sensitive to the community and the environment during the design and consenting processes, the wind farm should have only minor adverse effects.
Tell us what you think
Consultation with local authorities, interest groups and residents is commencing and will continue right through this year. We would like to hear your views on our proposals. Please email:
Or, alternatively you can contact Chris Drayton with your comments at:
RES New Zealand Ltd
PO Box 50113
Porirua
Telephone: +64 (0)4 894 7152
Environmental Issues
While wind power is one of the most sustainable ways of generating electricity, RES is using local experts for environmental advice and input into the development process. We are also working with the district and regional councils to make sure that our environmental assessments are consistent with good resource management practice. Those assessments include looking at the effect of the windfarm on:
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Visual impact and landscape |
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Birds and other wildlife |
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Vegetation, including indigenous vegetation |
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Cultural effects and any sites of significance to Maori |
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Water quality and aquatic ecology |
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Indigenous and European archaeology |
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Potential noise impacts on residences |
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Socio-economic benefits and impacts |
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Transport, traffic management and access |
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Effects on service providers and telecommunication links |
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Recreational impacts |
Other benefits
As well as generating pollution-free electricity and helping to meet the government’s draft strategy for a sustainable, low emissions energy future, during construction we will need a significant workforce. We have a policy of using local contractors and suppliers wherever possible. There will also be opportunities for new local businesses to be involved in providing materials and services during operations.
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Saturday 28 July 2007, 10am–4pm Saturday 3 November 2007, 10am-4pm Early 2008 |
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