The Kakanui Mountains in North Otago are being
investigated by a new company for a wind farm to generate
electricity.
Waitaki Wind, set up recently by former Meridian Energy Ltd
chief executive Keith Turner and former Waitaki mayor Alan
McLay, is negotiating with landowners on the Kakanui
Mountains to get access to start monitoring, according to
evidence at the Environment Court yesterday.
The company, in which Mr McLay and Dr Turner are sole
shareholders and directors, has pre-empted a similar move by
North Otago consumer-owned power lines company Network
Waitaki, which was also considering the Kakanui Mountains
with Windflow Technology Ltd.
Further details on Waitaki Wind's activities came from
consulting engineer Ken Mitchell, of Oamaru, during the court
hearing yesterday into Meridian's plan to build the north
bank tunnel hydro electricity scheme on the Waitaki River. Mr
Mitchell is not involved with Waitaki Wind.
Network Waitaki chief executive Graham Clark confirmed his
company had considered the Kakanui Mountains for a possible
wind farm as part of studies it was doing into sites for
possible wind or hydro-electric generation.
It was no longer looking at the Kakanuis, but would be
"interested in any generation options" of a size that would
integrate with its network.
"The Kakanui ranges was one we believed to be a good site
[for a wind farm]," he said.
Mr McLay said Waitaki Wind, which formed only recently, was
reviewing options, but could not be specific at this stage
where they were.
Waitaki Wind was interested in all areas of potential in the
district for development as a community asset and to benefit
the community. The Otago Daily Times reported on Tuesday that
Waitaki Wind had been formed to investigate wind farm sites
in the central South Island.
Dr Turner said then the new company was "just an idea that
has not gone particularly far yet".
He said it was too early to say where possible wind sites
could be.
But Mr Mitchell told the court yesterday Waitaki Wind was
negotiating with landowners on the Kakanui Mountains to get
access to their properties to set up wind monitoring sites.
He said he had "personal knowledge of developments up there",
because he acted as a consultant to Network Waitaki, which
had looked at similar sites jointly with Windflow Technology
Ltd.
Network Waitaki-Windflow had also approached landowners on
the Kakanui Mountains for access rights, he said.
Mr Mitchell was giving evidence on behalf of of the Lower
Waitaki River Management Society, which is opposing
Meridian's north bank tunnel scheme on the Waitaki River.
david.bruce@odt.co.nz
