Could Whitby and Pauatahanui be surrounded by wind turbines?  The answer is a resounding yes, given the Belmont and Puketiro wind farm proposals, not to mention the fact that some landowners between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay are also exploring the possibilities.

Cumulative effects was one of the reasons cited for a possible five-year moratorium on a wind farm at Belmont Regional Park wind farm, recoomended at the Greater Wellington Regional Council meeting of 29 September.

It was noted that the distance between the proposed Puketiro and Belmont wind farms would be 6 kilometres - or less if turbines are built on private land to the south of Puketiro. 

What a worrying thought for members of the Pauatahanui / Judgeford / Whitby communities who could potentially be sandwiched between two wind farms.  Just imagine..... no respite from the visual impacts - one view from the front door and another from the back door!! and what about the noise impacts - no respite there either - the nor-wester bringing noise from one wind farm and the southerly from the other!!!

It really is time that some sense came into the siting of wind farms rather than this mad, ad hoc land rush for any piece of ground that might catch a breeze.  It was therefore reassuring to see Palmerston North City Councillors being proactive in taking steps towards establishing guidelines to help steer wind-farm development in the area in the future, noting  "the speed at which turbines had already spread across the hills showed something had to be done, and fast." 

http://www.windaction.org/news/18273

Maybe GWRC should also consider taking such a proactive and revolutionary stance rather than feeding the land grab by offering our parks for wind farms.