Wind farm appeal rejected

Community groups have welcomed news that the proposed Waiuku Wind Farm has hit
another legal roadblock.

The wind farm was proposed for a 560-hectare site at Maioro, which is down the coast from
Karioitahi Beach and around 10 minutes’ drive from Waiuku.

LET Capital Number 3 Ltd’s fast-track bid was rejected 154 working days after the
application was lodged with the Environmental Protection Authority.

LET appealed the decision, and the matter went to the High Court, with the EPA’s expert
consenting panel and Forest and Bird as the two respondents.

Waiuku Rural Preservation Society co-chair Mark Robinson said he was “ecstatic” with the
Auckland High Court’s decision to dismiss the appeal.

“There is no other windfarm in New Zealand, that we know of, that sits amongst so many
dwellings. The main concern was the proximity to dwellings and what it would do to people’s lives and lifestyles.”

The windmills were expected to reach up to 40 storeys high and supply electricity to the
national grid, less than 500 metres from the nearest home.

Robinson said one of the unexpected outcomes from the two-year battle against the wind
farm project was learning more about the cultural significance of the area and about some of the vulnerable wildlife like bitterns and bats.

Forest and Bird regional conservation manager Carl Morgan said the coastal wetlands and
forests were vital for the critically endangered pekapeka bats and other threatened birds like the matuku bittern.

“Wind turbines can kill birds and bats through direct collisions, the pressure created by the
fast-moving turbines and loss of habitats. For species that are already endangered, even small decreases in populations matter. In this case, the applicant did not carry out proper
monitoring and assessment for effects on native wildlife. The proposed site is next to the
Waiuku Forest, with lots of pekapeka present, and bittern are also known to live in the area.

“Residents can help by joining groups that protect wetlands and support predator control. As well as boots on the ground mahi, community advocacy for strong environmental safeguards is crucial,” Morgan said.