Wind farm time frame undecided

Resource consent for the Mt Stuart wind farm has been granted to Central Otago company Pioneer Generation, but Peter Dowling, its chief executive, said a time frame for beginning construction at the site had not been set.

The final cost of the project had also not been set, as one of the options being explored by the company was buying secondhand wind turbines from an overseas source.

The company planned to spend $10 million to $15 million developing the site, which would support nine wind turbines and generate between 5.5MW and 6.5MW of power for the local distribution network.

With consent gained, Pioneer would now have to work through the 63 conditions that had been imposed on the consent by the Clutha District Council, and examine the implications.

Once the nature of the conditions had been determined, Pioneer would sign an easement with the landowner to allow it access to the site, Mr Dowling said.

Clutha District Council planning and environment manager Murray Brass said the 15-day right of appeal against Pioneer's resource consent would end this Friday, and so far there had been no appeals lodged.

Residents of Manuka Gorge, near Lawrence, say they are unlikely to lodge appeals, because they cannot afford to take their case to the Environment Court.

While they have concerns about the noise and visual impact of the turbines, they are also angry resource consent has been granted to Pioneer Generation, which is owned by Central Lakes Trust, a Central Otago charitable trust.

Trevor McCorkindale, who will be able to see the turbines from his property, said he had objections to a Central Otago company setting up in South Otago and taking profits back to Central.

"They are not allowed to put [wind farms] on the hills up Central, so they come up here and put them in the neighbour's paddock," he said.

"Everybody seems to be in favour of wind farms as long as they are not outside their back door."

Mr Dowling said supporting the community was something Pioneer would consider.

"The profits from the company go to the Central Lakes Trust, and there is no provision to funnel any of the profits into the South Otago community."

However, Pioneer was going to be part of the South Otago community, and would attempt to work with it in a way that would reinforce that, Mr Dowling said.

rachel.taylor@odt.co.nz

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Mt Stuart wind farm

- Site area: 148ha
- Development area: 15ha
- Maximum number of turbines: 9
- Maximum height of turbine to blade tip: 75m
- Maximum rotor diameter: 60m
- Area of each lay-down site (9 in total): 18m x 15m (270sq m)
- Length of transmission line: 2.5km
- Maximum installed generating capacity: 7.5MW

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