It was always going to be one of the biggest things to hit
Otago, whether you were for Project Hayes or against it.
So it was no surprise it took two hearings to reach a
decision on whether Meridian Energy could build its $2
billion wind farm on the Lammermoor Range.
• Victory for the 'small guys'
Two thousand pages of evidence were presented at the first
hearing in Alexandra, held over 20 days from May to July
2007, with approval announced on October 31, 2007.
But those opposed to the 176-turbine proposal appealed,
saying they wanted a second shot at protecting precious
Central Otago hinterland.
With the approval came a new twist: panel chairman John
Matthews, a Queenstown barrister, disagreed with his fellow
commissioners and said consent should have been denied - that
the proposed 92km wind farm site was, despite many
submissions to the contrary, an outstanding natural landscape
that should be protected.
A divide had emerged at the hearing among those closest to
the proposed wind farm, with two distinct camps emerging
between Paerau valley farmers.
Those on the east side, who would be compensated for having
turbines on their land, talked about the professionalism of
Meridian and usually sat near the company table.
Those on the west side of the valley usually sat near the
back of the public gallery, and claimed Meridian had misled
them and been disrespectful.
Styx farmer Susan Elliot was among those strongly in favour,
saying the approval was a "common-sense approach", her
comments echoing numerous others who said the Lammermoor
Range was an already modified, working landscape that would
be made more productive by the wind farm and did not warrant
protection.
In his closing address, counsel for Meridian Energy, Andrew
Beatson, said some "extravagant and unsupportable claims" had
been made by those opposing Project Hayes.
The wind farm would ensure "we, and those who come after us,
have a safe and healthy future".
That future now looks like it will be free of wind turbines,
at least on the Lammermoors.
• Pam Jones covered the original resource consent hearings
for the ODT.
a victory for common sense
The decision to reject Meridian's latest Think Big scheme will, hopefully, cause a major rethink in future proposals. It's time to focus on energy conservation and small-scale projects closer to where the power is needed. The reason New Zealand lags so far behind the rest of the world is our power companies have seen the South Island as a vast source of cheap power with a population easily bought by short-term jobs and a few crumbs. The message from the Project Hayes decision will hopefully be heard in Wellington loud and clear - our unique landscapes and waterways are no longer for sale