The past year has been fairly quiet on the wind farm front, but plenty of wheels have been turning behind the scenes and, in the coming months, things will be hotting up. There are a few key decision documents circulating which could significantly influence the outcome of the Puketiro, and future, wind farms in our area.

All our hard work and determination to be heard has had significant influence on the outcomes of Plan Change 7 and the Battle Hill Management Plan. Now the opposition are trying to turn those outcomes around, and it’s time for us to stand up and be heard again.

 Here is a summary of two key situations we currently face and, most importantly, how you can get involved and help keep our wonderful community protected.

1. Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan

GWRC have issued a Draft Plan combining the Management Plans of all parks in the region. Effectively this means the plan for each park is now open for public consultation.

After a hard fight last year, the Battle Hill Management Plan was finally adopted, prohibiting wind turbines (including blade flyover) and supposedly wind farm access roads in the Park.
The new proposed Parks Network Plan has reintroduced site access to the wind farm through a part of Battle Hill Park, in complete contradiction to previous Council decisions.

The Akatarawa Forest section of the proposed Plan allows for wind turbines to be built near the water catchment areas of the forest. 

The map shows the extended footprint of the Puketiro wind farm including ‘Ridge C’ that was added after RES agreed to remove turbines from private land in Moonshine Valley.

This is the first time the extended area of the wind farm has been open for public consultation so it’s important we act on it.

Full maps are available in the Draft Plan.

Visit http://www.gw.govt.nz/greater‐wellington‐parks‐network‐plan‐draft/ or
contact GWRC for a copy because it’s a big document!

Submissions close 23 July and we urge you to put in an individual submission.

We’ll send submission templates and information to our regular email distribution list. Not on this list?  Contact us and we will provide you with the information you require.

2.  District Plan Change 7 – Wind Farms

In March 2010, Plan Change 7 was adopted by Porirua City Council putting in place guidelines for wind farms and defining wind turbines within 700m of a property boundary as a non‐complying activity.

NZ Wind Energy Assoc and Mighty River Power Ltd have both appealed this decision and are taking it to the Environment Court. They are appealing the 700m setback and want it removed, arguing it is not consistent with the objectives of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and that the relevant noise standards are sufficient protection.

The establishment of a specific setback distance is a national first and sets a real precedent for keeping turbines away from residents. It would be bad news for us if this is overturned.
Preserve Pauatahanui, some local residents and other groups have joined the Appeal process as supporters of Porirua City Council. The Appeal may not reach Court for some months, but when it does we want our group to be in full voice!