The company behind a proposal for a Southland wind farm capable of supplying electricity to nearly 74,000 homes plans to lodge a resource consent application by February.
It also hopes the first elec-tricity could be generated from the site within four years.
The Slopedown project, near Wyndham, is being investigated by Wind Prospect CWP (NZ) Ltd which operates wind farms in Australia and has projects in various stages of development in Europe and Asia.
It held an open day for the Wyndham community in April and plans another public open day early next month to update residents and other interested people on its investigations.
The event will be held at the Wyndham Memorial Hall on Monday, December 8, from 2.30pm to 7.30pm.
The group is also looking at the possibility of improving telecommunications in the area, especially Internet and cellphone coverage and wants to establish a community trust fund to help support community projects in the area.
Residents are told all this and more in a community newsletter due to be circulated this week.
In it, the company said initial public feedback from the open day and website survey showed more than half (53%) of residents either supported the proposal or were neutral about it, while 30% opposed it and another 17% had yet to form an opinion.
"A common comment received was that people needed more time and information before being able to form an opinion on the proposal which helps to explain the 17% of respondents who do not yet have an opinion."
Initial investigations have included a preliminary aviation report which shows the wind farm would pose no risk to flight paths or aviation operation zones.
An ecology assessment showed there was no significant threat to species or habitat in the area although three species of threatened birds were found to use the site in some way.
One species - the rifleman - will not be affected, as the development will not disturb its environment, while some building may take place in the habitat of the South Island fernbird and the kereru could be at risk of colliding with some of the turbines.
The company is continuing to consult the Department of Conservation and other interest groups to refine the wind farm's development, and gauging public support for plans to establish a community trust fund.
